Anne of Austria (1601–1666; Queen Consort of France 1615–43, Queen Regent of France 1643–51) and Louis XIV, King of France (b. 1638; r. 1643–1715)

On September 5, 1638, after more than twenty years of marriage to Louis XIII without producing an heir, Anne of Austria gave birth to the future Louis XIV. This medal was made to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone of the Benedictine church of Val-de-Grâce on April 1, 1645, in fulfillment of the queen's vow to build a church and convent if she had a son. The reverse of the medal provides the only record of the original plan made by Mansart for the facade of the church. An example in gold was placed in the foundation.

Source: Scher, Stephen K., et al. The Scher Collection of Commemorative Medals. New York and London, 2019.