British Museum. Department of Coins and Medals

“ There are other fine medals of this reign; but these are the work of foreign artists. Of such is the remarkable one with the portrait of Mary Queen of Scots by Primavera, and also a number of Dutch medals, among which are the splendid life-like portraits by Stephen of Holland. These medals are all cast and afterwards chased, and are certainly very fine examples of Dutch art. It is not improbable that this artist first studied at Nuremberg, which was the great school for medallists in Germany, and in which Albert Dürer himself had worked. ”

“ Abraham Simon also continued to work for some time after the Restoration; but he held no official post. In the meanwhile a new set of artists had sprung up in England, who with few exceptions monopolised the medallic work in this country during the reign of Charles II. These are the Roettiers, who had been introduced to Charles during his stay in Holland, and of whom there were three brothers, John, Joseph, and Philip. It is of the eldest brother, John, that we have the most numerous and finest works. The character of the medals of this period differs very much from those of the Commonwealth. ”

“ Medallic art of the present century in England owes all its merit to the work of Pistrucci, an Italian who came to this country in 1815 and remained here till his death in 1855, and to the work of the Wyon Family. To Pistrucci we are indebted for the famous Waterloo Medal, for many medals of learned societies, and for some of our finest coin-dies ”

“ With very few exceptions, there are no medals of interest in the English series dating before the reign of Henry VIII. During the fifteenth century a few counters were struck, which directly or indirectly refer to events in English history; but these are for the most part of French work, and the medal which is placed first in this Guide, although bearing the portrait of an Englishman, John Kendal, is undoubtedly of Italian work, and was probably executed at Venice. ”

“ As the Queen was by certain persons held to be incapable of bearing a child, they considered the Prince not to be of royal blood but a pretender, or as Ericthonius, to have been produced without a mother. ”

“ The series of historical medals closes with one of the finest productions of the art of modern times, the Waterloo medal, designed and executed by Pistrucci, a work of 'surpassing size and beauty,' on which the artist spent a great portion of his life. ”

“ The alarm caused by the defeat at Almanza was increased by the appearance of Charles XII. of Sweden on the borders of the Empire with a large army, which it was apprehended he would use in support of France. Through the diplomacy of Marlborough, Charles was induced to withdraw his troops from Silesia and to turn 97 his forces against Russia, but not before he had obtained from the Emperor a promise of a free exercise of religion to the Protestants in Silesia. This medal was not issued till the following year. ”

“ Of Mary there is also little worthy of note beyond some excellent portraits of herself and Philip, and a medal which refers to the condition of England during her reign. These were executed by Trezzo at Madrid, and are the first signed medals of the English series. The illness of Elizabeth in 1572, her struggle with the Papal party, as well as her acceptance of the protection of the Netherlands, and the defeat and destruction of the Spanish Armada, afforded subjects for commemoration. ”

“ Of the medallists who worked in England from the accession of George I. to the end of the last century, are J. A. Dassier, who executed the large series of medals xxi of English Sovereigns from William I. to George II.; Richard Yeo, who made the Culloden medal; Thomas Pingo, who made the Gibraltar medal of 1782, and several medals for societies; C. H. Küchler, who executed the Nile and Trafalgar medals; and J. G. Hancock, whose works are very numerous. ”

“ At Dettingen, George II., with an army of 40,000 English and Hanoverians, defeated the French under the Duc de Noailles and the Duc de Grammont. In consequence of this defeat, the French were compelled to evacuate Germany. This medal was executed by Daniel Haesling, a native of East Gothland and pupil of Hedlinger. He worked chiefly for the kings of Poland and Denmark. ”

“ Tho Obverse represents the religious toleration of Britain; the Mitre of the Church of England, the chalice, wafer, and rosary of Rome, and the dove of the Nonconformists having the free Bible in their centre. The inscribed scroll refers to the engagement by James of James Steward, a Scottish lawyer, to write letters to the Pensionary Fagel with a view to induce William and Mary to approve the abolition of the Test and Penal Laws. ”

“ The series ends with a medal setting forth the claims of Henry Duke of York as Henry IX. to the throne of his grandfather.
With the Stuart family are specially connected the medalets which are called touch-pieces (Nos. 320—324) . The custom of touching by the sovereigns of this country for the cure of scrofula or 'the King's evil' appears to have existed since the reign of Edward the Confessor. ”

“ Robert Blake, born 1598, commanded in the West for Parliament during the Civil War, entered the Naval 32 Service in 1649 and obtained several victories over the Dutch during the years 1652—1654. Died 1657. The obverse of this medal is engraved, and the reverse is struck, each on a thin plate. The portrait is not as it professes to be of Blake, but is a coarse copy of one of Maurice, Prince of Orange.
160. Peace with Holland, 1654. Obv. Britain and Holland armed, holding spears, each surmounted with cap of Liberty, and bearing national flag, Peace uniting spears with olive-wreath. ”

“ SOCIORVM PROTECTOR; in ex., CLASSE HISP. DELETA AD ORAS SICILIÆ. 1718. Gold. Size 1·75. By J. Croker.
After the forming of the Quadruple Alliance between England, France, Holland, and Austria, to oppose Spain, who had broken the Treaty of Utrecht by seizing Sardinia, the British fleet under Admiral Byng attacked and defeated the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro, 11 Aug. 1718, destroying a large number of the enemy's ships.
484. Quadruple Alliance: Indecision of the United Provinces, 1720. Obv. France, Austria, and England in chariot on three wheels, drawn by two horses ”

“ By W. Wyon. Clasps: FEROZESHUHUR, ALIWAL, and SOBRAON. Ribbon, blue edged with crimson.
The great battles of this campaign, Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Henry Hardinge commanding, were Moodkee, 18 Dec. 1845; Ferozeshuhur, 21 Dec. 1845; Aliwal, 28 Jun. 1846; and Sobraon, 10 Feb. 1846. If a soldier was present at only one of the four actions, the decoration was awarded to him without a clasp, the name of such action being inscribed in the exergue on the reverse; but if the recipient served in more battles than one, then for each engagement he received an additional clasp. (See next medal.) ”

“ From these we gather that he worked at first in Holland, executing many medallic portraits of his countrymen. He was also in the employ of Sigismund, King of Poland. He resided for a short period in England, where he produced a large number of portrait-medals of private persons. These are for the most part dated 1562.
5 Jean Warm or Varin, born at Liege 1604, studied at a very early age painting, especially portraiture, and the art of engraving, placing himself under the direction of the French medallist Dupré. ”

“ Clive in dress of Roman warrior l., holding standard in l. hand and presenting sceptre of Nawab (Nabob) of Bengal to Meer Jaafar (Jaffier) ; between them, globe, cornucopiae, and rudder. INIVRIES ATTONED PRIVILEGE AVGMENTED TERRITORY ACQVIRED. A SOVBAH GIVEN TO BENGAL. MDCCLVIII. Silver. Size 1·5.
This medal records the defeat of Siraj-ed-dawleh (Surajah Dowlah) at Plassy by Clive, 23 June, 1757, and the appointment of Meer Jaafar to be his successor as Nawab (Nabob) of Bengal, &c.
505. War in Africa: Taking of Goree, 1758. Obv. Head of Britannia, l.; behind, trident. ”

“ The vixen may represent England driving out the King, who had deprived her of her religious liberty.
288. Flight of Prince James, 1688. Obv. Father Petre mounted on lobster, and holding in his arms the young Prince, on whose head is a windmill; in distance, ship with French flag. ALLONS MON PRINCE NOUS SOMMES EN BON CHEMIN; in ex., IAC. FRANC. EDUARD SUPPOSEE. 20. JUIN. 1688. Rev. Shield bearing windmill, surmounted by Jesuit's cap, and surrounded by rosary with inscription, HONI SOIT QUI NON Y PENSE; and badge, a lobster. LES ARMES ET L'ORDRE DU PRETENDU PRINCE DE GALLES. Silver. ”

“ This family is of German origin, George Wyon, the first member who visited England, being a native of Cologne, and forming one of the suite of George I., to whose person he was attached as Chief Goldsmith. He is said to have died in the West Indies. ”

“ On 22 Nov. 1854 the Queen ordered that a medal should be struck and awarded to the surviving officers and privates of the regular forces who served in South Africa in the years 1834—5, Sir Benjamin D'Urban Comm.-in-chief; in 1846—7, Colonel Robert Richardson and Colonel H. Somerset commanding; and in 1850—1853, Sir Harry Smith and aft. Sir G. Cathcart commanding. This medal has no clasp. 137
597. War with Russia, 1854—1855: Crimea. Obv. Same: beneath head, 1854. Rev. Ancient warrior facing, holding sword and shield, and crowned by Victory. CRIMEA. B. WYON SC. Silver. Size 1·4. By W. & B. Wyon. ”

“ In the negotiations of peace between England and Holland, Sweden acted as mediator, consequently her shield is placed in the centre as uniting those of the belligerents.
223—224. British Colonization, 1670. Obv. Jugate busts of King in armour, and Queen draped, r. CAROLVS ET CATHARINA REX ET REGINA. Rev. Globe with portions of all the four continents. DIFFVSVS IN ORBE BRITANNVS. 1670. Gold and silver. Size 1·6. Struck. By one of the Roettiers.
This medal alludes to the remarkable growth of British colonization, which as early as 1670 extended over all the four quarters of the Globe. ”

“ John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, the celebrated general, born 1650, created Earl 1689, Duke 1702, died 1722. This medal was struck in 1706, after the conquest of Brabant and of Spanish Flanders, and after the capture of Antwerp. It is placed out of chronological order, being selected for the portrait of Marlborough.
433. Prince Eugene of Savoy, 1704. Obv. Bust r., in armour and collar of Golden Fleece. EVGENIVS FRANC. DVX SAB. CÆS. EXER. GENER. COMM. Rev. Angel with flaming sword destroying the army of Sennacherib. GENII VIRTVTE BONI. II. REG. 19 ”

“ Neptune in sea-chariot l. before Dieppe, bombarded by fleet. ET PROXIMVS ARDET VCALEGON. (Virg. Aen. ii. 311) ; in ex., DIEPPA AB ANGLIS & HOLLANDIS INCENTA. D. XXII. XXIII. IVL. 1694. Silver. Size 2. By J. Boskam.
In order to counteract the intrigues of Louis XIV., the Emperor of Germany sent the Prince of Baden to England, Jan. 1694, to take counsel with William. In July 1694 Dieppe was bombarded by the combined English and Dutch fleets. This medal is composed of the reverses of two separate medals.
393. Bombardment of Havre, 1694. Obv. Bust of King r., laur., in armour and cloak. ”

“ George, Lord (Earl) Berkeley, descended from Robert Fitzharding of the Royal House of Denmark, was 13th Lord Berkeley, succeeded to the title 1658, was privy councillor in the reigns of Charles II. and James II., and was one of those who invited William III. of Orange to England: created Viscount Dursley and Earl Berkeley 1679. Died 1698. 52
255. Duke of Lauderdale, 1672. Obv. Bust r., in armour and cloak. Rev. Minerva seated r., resting her arm on shield, arms of Lauderdale, whose helmet and crest she holds in her left hand. Motto, CONSILIO ET ANIMIS. 1672. Joan Rott. F. Silver. ”

“ Sepoy facing, holding English flag in r. hand; in the distance, battle and tents; in ex., 141 Persian inscription, "This medal has been granted as a memorial of the defeat of the French army in Egypt by the victorious and brave English army." Rev. Ship towards r. on sea; in the distance, sea-shore with pyramids and obelisk. MDCCCI. Silver. Size 1·9.
Given by the East India Company to the seven thousand English and Native troops commanded by Major-General Baird, who landed at Kosseyr, marched across the Desert, and from Kinè descended the Nile to Rosetta, 1800—1801. ”

“ ALMIGHTY GOD HAS BLESSED HIS MAJESTY'S ARMS; in ex., VICTORY OF THE NILE. AUGUST 1. 1798. M. B. SOHO. C. H. KÜCHLER FEC. Edge engraved, FROM ALEXṚ DAVISON ESQṚ SṬ JAMES'S SQUARE. A TRIBUTE OF REGARD. Gold. Size 1·95. By C. H. Küchler.
In the battle of the Nile, which was fought in Aboukir Bay, 1 Aug. 1798, the French fleet which had conveyed Napoleon and his troops to Egypt was, with the exception of four vessels, either taken or destroyed by Admiral Nelson, who for this victory was raised to the peerage. This medal was presented by Mr. ”

“ This was, however, obviated by the invention of the screw, which was first adopted in the sixteenth century, but did not entirely supersede the use of the hammer until the middle of the seventeenth century. Medals are now as a rule produced by striking. ”

“ The treaties which terminated the Seven Years' War were a compact between Russia and Prussia, 5 May, 1762; another between Prussia and Sweden, 22 May, 1762; another, called the Peace of Paris, between England, France, Spain, and Portugal, 10/16 Feb. 1763; and the last, called the Peace of Hubertsburg, between Austria, Prussia, and Saxony, 18 Feb. 1763.
518. Prosecution of the "North Briton," No. 45, 1763. Obv. Bust of Wilkes, three-quarters l., wearing robes of Lord Mayor. I. WILKES ESQ LORD MAYOR. 1774. Rev. Axe and jack-boot with head of Lord Bute. BRITONS STRIKE HOME. Copper. ”