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Click here to subscribeA Worcester shaped hexagonal teapot stand, printed in rare sepia with a version of Robert Hancock's Ruins, with a gentleman fishing by a tree by a monument being overrun by foliage, 14.2cm wide, The Perry Collection and Ridley-Day Collection label, Steppes Farm Antiques label , c.1760. Condition Report: Light surface wear to print. The edge with blemishes from firing.
A Worcester The King of Prussia' No.3 small teapot and cover, printed in monochrome with an engraving after Robert Hancock, with half-length portrait of the King of Prussia, a single Cupid with laurel wreath, the verso with Fame, blowing two trumpets, the handle and spout with stylised foliage, the cover with flower bud finial and printed with cannon and barrels with cannonballs, black line borders, 11.3cm high, c.1757Vendor's Note - This is the rarest of the three engravings of The King of Prussia that Robert Hancock produced for porcelain decoration. The print is signed RH (for Robert Hancock) Worcester and an anchor (the rebus of Richard Holdship, who seems to have been responsible for transfer-printing at the Worcester factory). In addition, half hidden in the scroll, R Hancock fecit Worcester is inscribedNote: This is such a rare piece, I can find none of the well-known catalogues with this design on a teapot in any description, so I cannot give a reference to it. Condition Report: Restored teapot. Nibbles to finial.
A Worcester 'The Tea-Party' No. 3 pattern saucer, printed in monochrome after an engraving by Robert Hancock, third version, with lady and gentleman seated having tea around a tripod table, a dog at their feet, by a sparsely decorated tree and ornamental fountain, black line rim, 12.3cm diam, c.1756-60.Provenance. Anton Gabszcwicz. 2008. Note. This is a somewhat rare print. Not easily found. Condition Report: Good condition. Light firing blemishes.
A rare Worcester punch bowl, printed in deep lilac with Robert Hancock prints, the interior with The Amphitheatre, with ruins and figures, the border with eight garlands, the exterior with four prints, The Fountain, The Ruin by the Cliff The Three Sailor and The Shepherd and Shepherdess, gilt line rim, 28.3cm diam, c.1765-70 Note: These are rare prints and the only other large punch bowl I know with these prints in deep lilac is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (No.C.347/1940)
A Worcester rare tea bowl and saucer, painted with a series of colourful fancy insects among leaf and bud sprigs in green monochrome, a striped caterpillar nibbling at a leaf in the centre, gilt rims, the saucer 12.1cm diam, c.1775Note: For similar cup and saucer Zorensky Collection, Bonhams, Part II, Lot 107; a similar example is also illustrated by H. Rissik Marshall Coloured Worcester Porcelain, p. 120, fig.373. Condition Report: Wear to gilding and decoration. Spitting. Structually sound.
A rare Worcester tea bowl and saucer, pencilled in monochrome with Oriental flower sprays and a moth, within foliate borders and four leaves picked out in red and gilt, the saucer 12cm diam, Zorka Hodgson Collection label, c.1755Provenance: The Zorka Hodgson Collection, Bonhams, Lot 71 Condition Report: Minor contemporary overglazed flee bite to tea bowl. The saucer with restored glaze flake. Light wear. Otherwise good condition.
British Coins, Victoria, sovereign, 1841, unbarred As in GRATIA, young head l., rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (S.3852; Marsh 24 [R3 in any condition]), an especially choice example of this classic rarity, showing glowing lustre and just faint friction on the portrait and obverse field, sharply struck with a fabulous reverse, certified and graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 58, one of the finest 1841 sovereigns to appear at auction and very rare in this grade The mintage of gold sovereigns was particularly scant in this year, with a reported issuance of just 124,054 pieces, compared to several million for most of the dates of this first bust type. Examination of the Royal Mint’s output of all coins for the first half of the 19th century (as given on Table 74 in Challis’s New History of the Royal Mint) reveals that the totals for 1841 were smaller than normal but not exceedingly so, which leads to the next question: what happened to all the 1841 sovereigns (not to mention half-sovereigns and halfcrowns), making them rarities today? Challis mentions the heavier export of copper and silver beginning in 1835 (page 487), but this had no impact on the gold coinage. Commercial attrition explains the overall scarcity of Queen Victoria’s early gold, but what happened in particular to the sovereigns of 1838, 1839 and 1841? The 1838 sovereign’s mintage was 2.7 million coins, yet it is very rare today. The 1839 sovereign is rarer still in Mint State, perhaps reflecting its mintage of just over half a million pieces. But 1841 is rare in all grades and almost unknown in Mint State. Challis relates that during the early 1840s the Royal Mint was under special scrutiny by government officials looking into its costs (pages 493-496), and that its records were suspect as being possibly inaccurate due to political squabbling. Yet none of this explains the rarity of the 1838, 1839 and especially 1841 sovereigns. British commerce has always been intense and this clearly supports the idea that these first sovereigns of the new reign were heavily used. But so were all of the other issued dates of the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. When the Bank of England instructed the Royal Mint to melt down some 90 million sovereigns into gold bars during 1930-31, as Challis tells us (page 576), it may well be that the older, more worn coins went into the melting pots to such an extent that the bulk of remaining earlier dates thus disappeared forever. Survival was nothing less than chance.
British Coins, Victoria, sovereign, 1843, ‘narrow shield’, young head l., rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (S.3852B; Marsh 26A [R3 in any grade]), a fabulous sovereign displaying full mint brilliance combined with gorgeous gold colour and a marvellous strike, certified and identified erroneously by PCGS as S.3852, graded as Mint State 64, quite possibly the finest known example of this famous rarity and the only example graded MS64 by PCGS The ‘narrow shield’ style of reverse is most easily distinguished from ordinary reverses by the positioning of the laurel leaves to the sides of the shield (on regular reverses, the second-most top inner leaves are in line with the shield’s top but the central leaves are above the shield’s central line dividing the quadrants), making the royal shield appear taller and thinner. There is also a set of inner berries at the top of each laurel cluster on the ‘narrow shield’. In terms of the engraving quality, it may be said to be more delicate on this rare variety, displaying the armorial emblem under the shield as somewhat larger and longer, creating a more artistic uniting of the thistle, rose and shamrock. Why this die was created, and why it was employed so sparingly only during 1838 and 1843, remain unanswered questions. What is apparent is the astounding quality of this specimen, finer than the Bentley coin and finer than all others seen so far. This exceptional piece was described by Charles Wander as one of his favourite coins in his collection.
British Coins, Victoria, sovereign, 1848, first (small) young head l., rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (S.3852; Marsh 31A), lustrous but a bit softly struck and showing some wear and tiny abrasions all over the obverse side, certified and graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 55 The extremely rare first head variety and only one other example graded AU55 by PCGS. Perhaps the quickest way to identify this rare variety is to check where the I in DEI appears over the downward curve of the queen’s hair immediately to left of the top bunch of hair in her ponytail: on this variety that letter sets centred, whereas on the second head it sets to the left. This is a very rare coin, in point of fact, that was not recognized for most of the time since it was struck, not even by Marsh in his first editions. While it is called the ‘small head’ it is only slightly so compared to the following portrait. Evidently the positioning of the queen’s portrait was altered in this year in an attempt to prolong die-life (as fully explained in the Bentley sale of 8 May 2012, lot 55 footnote). For advanced collectors of sovereigns, this coin presents a true opportunity to obtain a coin absent from almost all collections.
British Coins, George III, proof sovereign, 1820, large date, open 2, straight grained edge,laur. head r., rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3785C; W&R.200 [R7, 1-2 known]; Nobleman 51 [part], lightly impaired but brilliant, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof Genuine Uncirculated Details, Altered Surface, exceedingly rare Proof impressions of any date of the first style of sovereigns issued, late in the reign of George III, are all rare in any state of preservation. These are technically ‘proofs of record’, variously called ‘record proofs’ and ‘VIP proofs’. The Act of Union of 1800 included a provision that instructed the Royal Mint to prepare and preserve examples of the kingdom’s coinage in each year so as to keep an historical record of the coinage using actual examples, not just accounts. This was an innovation. Specimen proofs of almost all coinage issues exist from that date on. When the first sovereigns of the modern era appeared in 1817 bearing the Wyon portrait of the aging monarch combined with Pistrucci’s now-classic image of Saint George (replacing Saint Michael of medieval lore) depicted slaying the dragon (symbol of evil), the coin was instantly admired and continued to be struck into 1820 after the king had died. Proofs of 1817 are most often seen among the specimen coinage, followed by the considerably rarer 1818. It is believed that a single 1819 proof may exist but the coin so described in a 1950 Spink reference has not been seen in many decades. As George III passed away on 29 January 1820, proofs bearing this date seem to have been not much more than an afterthought. The 1820 proof half-sovereign (WR.207) is so rare that the Wilson-Rasmussen reference did not show its image; one appeared in the Terner Collection. The proof 1820 sovereign, as seen in this lot, is equally rare with an estimate of perhaps two examples extant. Its technical grade is of little matter as it is lacking in almost every collection in the world. One lucky buyer will be able to boast of ownership of one of the great sovereign rarities. Everyone else can put it on their wish list.
British Medals, Edward VI, Coronation 1547, a silver restitutional medal, from an original now attributed to Henry Basse, crowned half-length bust r., with sword and orb, legend in three concentric circles around with, at compass points, rose, portcullis, lis and harp, all crowned, EDWARDVS VI DG ANG FR … CORONATVS EST MDXLVI XX FEBRVA ETATIS, rev. 15-line legend in Hebrew and Greek, 62.5mm. (MI.53/1; Eimer 28b – this piece illustrated; cf Woll.p. 52, 31), believed late 18th century, cast and tooled with immaculate detail, superb mint state *bt. Coins & Antiquities, March 1979 (sold with letter relating) Dated in the Old Style, when the new year commenced on 25 March. By the standards of today this restitutional medal should be considered ‘extremely rare’.
British Medals, Edward VI, Coronation 1547, a cast bronze medal, by Henry Basse, bust l., wearing cap decorated with large feather, E – R, both crowned, to either side, legend in two concentric circles around with, at compass points, rose, portcullis, lis and harp, all crowned, EDWARDVS SEXTVS DG ANGLIÆ FRANCIÆ ET HIBER REX FIDEI DEFENS ET IN TERRIS ANGLICA ET HIBER ECCLESI CAPVT SVPREMVM, rev. legends in Latin, Hebrew and Greek, CORONATVS EST WESTMONASTERII Anno MDXLVII, 58mm. (MI.54/2; H&P, pl. 28, 3; Eimer -; Cook 8), pierced at top in outer legend, but suspension loop added, a cast of considerable age, perhaps even contemporary, the reverse at 90o to obverse, pleasing very fine and exceedingly rare*ex Maj. R. M. O. de la Hay, Christie’s Auction, 27 May 1981 (lot 2) MI (1885) records three specimens in silver, one of which is gilt.
British Medals, Edward VI, Coronation 1547, a coin-like silver medal, crowned Tudor rose on stalk, E – R to either side, EDWARD VI REX ANG FRANC HIBER ZC, rev. legend and date in 5 lines, INSIGNIA POTENTISSIMI REGIS ANGLIE 1547, rosette and pellet stops, 26.5mm., wt. 6.64gms. (Pagan 63 cf. MI.55/3; cf. Cook 7; cf. Foley 14), believed late 18th century, extremely fine and toned *bt. B. A. Seaby, 1976 The original medal is considered to be perhaps a Pattern half-sovereign or crown. The gold specimen in the Foley Collection sold for £30,000 (hammer price). H. E. Pagan (BNJ 40, 1971, “Mr. Emery’s Mint”), records that Edward Emery ‘the well-known forger and producer of fantasies’, is known to have made a Coronation medal of Edward VI, but neither this piece nor that in the following lot, conform to Emery’s style. By the standards of today this medal should be considered ‘very rare’. See also lots 501 and 502.
British Medals, Edward VI, Coronation 1547, a coin-like silver medal, a second example, crowned Tudor rose on stalk, E – R to either side, EDWARD VI REX ANG FRANC HIBER ZC, rev. legend and date in 5 lines, INSIGNIA POTENTISSIMI REGIS ANGLIE 1547, rosette and pellet stops, 27.5mm. 7.38gms. (Pagan 63 cf. MI 55/3; cf. Foley 14), believed late 18th century, superb mint state with rich blue-grey tone *bt. Spink & Son, 1985 H. E. Pagan (BNJ 40, 1971, “Mr. Emery’s Mint”), records that Edward Emery ‘the well-known forger and producer of fantasies’, is known to have made a Coronation medal of Edward VI, but neither this piece nor that in the following lot, conform to Emery’s style. By the standards of today this medal should be considered very rare. See also lots 501 and 502.
British Medals, James I, Coronation 1603, the official silver medal, probably by Charles Anthony, laureate bust r., in armour with lion shoulder plate, scarf around shoulders, IAC I BRIT CÆ AVG HÆ CÆSA RVM CÆ D D, rev. crowned rampant lion to l., holding brazier and wheatsheaf, ECCE PHAOS POPVLIQ SALVS, 29mm., wt. 5.46gms. (MI.191/11; Eimer 80; Woll I; Cook 10), a superbly sharp striking, choice and virtually mint state, rare *bt. Christopher Eimer, 1981 The first of the long series of official Coronation medals and struck for distribution at the ceremony. Charles Anthony, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint (1596-1615).
British Medals, James I, Coronation 1603, the official silver medal, a second example, probably by Charles Anthony, laureate bust r. in armour with lion shoulder plate, scarf around shoulders, IAC I BRIT CÆ AVG HÆ CÆSA RVM CÆ D D, rev. crowned rampant lion to l., holding brazier and wheatsheaf, ECCE PHAOS POPVLIQ SALVS, 29mm., wt. 5.88gms (MI.191/11; Eimer 80; Woll I; Cook 10), a superbly sharp striking, choice and virtually mint state with rich blue-grey tone, rare*ex Spink Auction 22, 15-16 June, 1982, lot 1090 See footnote to previous lot
British Medals, Queen Anne of Denmark (1574-1619, married 20 August, 1589), Coronation 1603, the official silver medal, probably by Charles Anthony, bust three-quarters l., wearing decorative collar, double-strand pearl necklace and drop pearl earings, pearls and other jewels in her hair, ANNA DG REGINA MAG BRIT FR ET HIM FILIA & SOROR REGV DANIÆ, rev. crowned shield of arms, ASTVTIA FALLAX TVTIOR INNOCENTIA, 29mm., wt. 7.46gms. (MI.192/12; Eimer 81; Woll.P. 60, 33; H&P, pl. 27, 8), a superb sharp striking, choice and virtually mint state with light grey tone, very rare *bt. A. H. Baldwin, 1978 Anne was the second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark and had been married to James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) in 1589 at the age of 14. See footnote to lot 506.
British Medals, Charles I, Coronation 1626, the official gold medal, by Nicolas Briot, crowned bust r., wearing ruff, collar of Order of the Garter and coronation robes, signed N.B., rev. arm issuing from clouds holding sword, DONEC PAX REDD-ITA TERRIS, 30mm., wt. 12.75gms. (MI.243/10; Eimer 106; BMC [Jones] 125-126; Woll.ii; Cook 11; Platt pp.117-18; vL.II, 164), strictly fine but extremely rare *bt. A. H. Baldwin Sword divides legend after second D in REDDITA
British Medals, Charles I, the Scottish Coronation 1633, the official gold medal, by Nicolas Briot, signed B on reverse crowned and draped bust l., wearing ornate lace collar, CAROLVS DG SCOTIÆ ANGLIÆ FR ET HIB REX, rev. a Scottish thistle in flower, HINC NOSTRÆ CREVERE ROSÆ, 28mm., wt. 8.23gms. (MI.266/60; Eimer 123; BMC [Jones] 155; Platt p.133, type B; H&P, pL 27, 9; Woll.iii; Cook 13; Foley 221), some light marks in fields, good very fine and very rare in gold The service took place at St. Giles, Edinburgh, accompanied by an Anglican service, this intended as a warning to the Presbyterians of the future Charles imagined for Scotland. Much of the finery, gold, silver and jewellery that accompanied the king was lost when the ship carrying it, the Blessing of Burntisland, capsized and sank in the Firth of Forth. Wollaston illustrates this variety, reading REX, but describes the legend ending … R.
British Medals, Charles I, the Scottish Coronation 1633, the official silver medal, by Nicolas Briot, signed B on reverse, struck on a thick flan, crowned and draped bust l., wearing ornate lace collar, CAROLVS DG SCOTIÆ ANGLIÆ FR ET HIB REX, rev. a Scottish thistle in flower, HINC NOSTRÆ CREVERE ROSÆ, 30.5mm. [flan 2.21mm.], wt. 16.15gms. (MI.266/60; Eimer 123; BMC [Jones] 155; Platt p.133, type B; H&P., pL 27, 9; Woll iii; Cook 13), good very fine, light tone, rare *bt. Christopher Eimer
British Medals, Charles I, the Scottish Coronation 1633, the official silver medal, by Nicolas Briot, signed B on reverse struck on a thick flan, crowned and draped bust l., wearing ornate lace collar, CAROLVS DG SCOTIÆ ANGLIÆ FR ET HIB REX, rev. a Scottish thistle in flower, HINC NOSTRÆ CREVERE ROSÆ, 28.5mm. [flan 2.21mm.], wt. 14.24gms. (MI.266/60; Eimer 123; BMC [Jones] 155; Platt p.133, type B; H&P. pL 27, 9; Woll iii; Cook 13), good very fine, light tone, rare *ex ‘English Collector’, Glendinings, 16 March 1989, lot 47 See note to lot 518.
British Medals, Charles II, Scottish Coronation at Scone Palace, 1651, cast gold medal, believed designed by Sir James Balfour, crowned bust r., wearing Coronation robes and Collar of the Garter, CAROLVS 2 DG SCO ANG FRA & HI REX FI DE cor i ia scon 1651, rev. the rampant Lion of Scotland holding thistle, NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET, 31.5mm., wt. 10.90gms. (MI.394/18; Eimer 183; Woll.iv; Platt II, pp.351-52), very fine and extremely rare *ex Dr Robert and Joshua Feldman Collection, Baldwin Auction 98, 3 May 2016, lot 2317; previously bt. A. H. Baldwin, July 1997 Charles had attempted to obtain the English throne by being first acclaimed as King of Scotland. Having accepted the ‘Deed of Covenant’, drawn up by the Protestants, he and future monarchs were prevented from intervention in matters of religion and Catholicism was rejected. Charles was crowned King of Scotland on 1st January 1651 but by September he had fled from the Battle of Worcester and into exile. There have been no further coronations in Scotland since then. The antiquarian and royalist Sir James Balfour of Denmylne (c.1600 – c.1658), 1st Baronet of Perth and Kinross, was well placed to have designed the medal.
British Medals, Charles II, Scottish Coronation at Scone Palace, 1651, cast silver medal, believed designed by Sir James Balfour, crowned bust r., wearing Coronation robes and Collar of the Garter, CAROLVS 2 DG SCO ANG FRA & HI REX FI DE cor i ia scon 1651, rev. the rampant Lion of Scotland holding thistle, NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET, 31.5mm. (MI.394/18; Eimer 183; Woll.iv; Platt II, pp. 351-52), very fine and extremely rare *bt. Glendining’s, 30 March 1983, lot 218 See footnote to previous lot.
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the official gold medal, by Thomas Simon, crowned bust r., wearing ornate lace cravat and wearing Garter Collar and George, CAROLVS II DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX, rev. the King enthroned, crowned by Peace, EVERSO MISSVS SVCCVRRERE SECLO XXIII APR 1661, 30mm., wt. 13.51gms. (MI.472/76; Eimer 221; vL.II, 470; Woll.v; H&P. pl. 30, 6; vL.II, 470; Platt II, p.358; Farquhar I, 229), choice extremely fine, retaining much mint bloom and having only the lightest of handling marks, very rare *bt. B. A. Seaby, 1978. The medal, when silver, was struck for distribution at the Ceremony on Tuesday, 23rd April, 1661, as noted by Samuel Pepys: ‘And three times the King at Arms went to the three open places on the scaffold, and proclaimed, that if anyone could show any reason why Charles Stewart should not be King of England, that now he should come and speak. And a Generall Pardon also was read by the Lord Chancellor, and meddalls flung up and down by my Lord Cornwallis, of silver, but I could not come by any.’ MI. notes that Simon was paid £110 for making the medal and continues that it ‘has never been surpassed fore minuteness and delicacy of work’. St. George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April.
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, silver jeton, crowned interlinked Cs, rev. stylised rose, 14mm. (MI.477/85); another silver jeton, of cliché form, larger and uniface, crowned rose, toothed border around, 24.5mm. (MI.488/108; Foley 440), this with chip to border at 5 - 6 o’clock, otherwise good very fine, first extremely fine, both rare (2)
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the ‘DIXI CUSTODIAM’ medal, silver, by Thomas Rawlins, crowned bust l., long hair over lace collar, wearing Garter Collar and George, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRI FRA ET HI REX, rev. Charles as a shepherd, his flock behind to left and right and at feet, DIXI CVSTODIAM – XXIII APRIL 1661; lettered edge, CORONATO PASTORE OVAT OVILE, 33.5mm. (MI.473/78; Eimer 220; Evelyn p.129, LVII), a beautiful medal, choice extremely fine with rich grey tone, very rare *ex Superior Galleries, December 1987, lot 2356 ex Papillon Collection, Bonhams Auction, 25 March 1998, lot 50 The authorship of the ‘DIXI CUSTODIAM’ is still uncertain, and whilst attributed to Thomas Rawlins in most recent publications, Luke Syson, ‘Designs on Posterity: Drawings for Medals’, FIDEM 1992, British Art Medal Trust, 1994: p.230, 4e, clearly attributes it back to Thomas Simon.
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the ‘DIXI CUSTODIAM’ medal, silver, by Thomas Rawlins, with unpublished error edge, crowned bust l., long hair over lace collar, wearing Garter Collar and George, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRI FRA ET HI REX, rev. Charles as a shepherd, his flock behind to left and right and at feet, DIXI CVSTODIAM – XXIII APRIL 1661; lettered edge, CORONAT PASTORE OVAT OVILE, 33.5mm. (MI.473/78, variety – error edge not listed in MI.; Eimer 220), good very fine, light tone and very rare with the unpublished error *bt. A. H. Baldwin, c. 1975 or earlier
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the ‘DIXI CUSTODIAM’ medal, silver, by Thomas Rawlins, a second variety, crowned bust l., long hair over lace collar, wearing Garter Collar without George, signed R below, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRI FRA ET HI REX, rev. Charles as a shepherd, his flock behind to left and right and at feet, DIXI CVSTODIAM – XXIII APRIL 1661; lettered edge, CORONATO PASTORE OVAT OVILE, 33.5mm. (MI.474/79; Eimer 220), very fine and a very rare variety *bt. Spink and Son, March 1978 MI notes the medal having die flaws as an explanation of its rarity, however this specimen shows no sign of them. The sheep on the reverse are fewer and more spaced than on the medal in the previous lot.
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the ‘IAM FLORESCIT’ medal, cast in gilt-silver, by Thomas Simon, laureate bust l., wearing robes and lace cravat, with Garter Collar and George, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB REX ET DE, rev. the Royal Oak flourishes, crowns of the three kingdoms in its branches, sun in majesty above, IAM FLO-RESCIT, date in ex., 23 APR 1661, 43.5mm. (MI.475/83; Eimer 219, this specimen illustrated; Vertue XXVII; Farquhar 251), cast in high relief, neatly chased, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare *ex ‘English Collector’, Glendinings, 16 March 1989, lot 679 Records indicate that the medal was intended to be a Royal award or presentation (two cooks and a musician known to have received it in gold). Another suggestion was that it was to be the Badge for the Knights of the Royal Oak, an Order that, in the end, was never established, this view shared by Luke Syson, ‘Designs on Posterity: Drawings for Medals’, FIDEM 1992, British Art Medal Trust, 1994: p.230, 4f. The slight scuffing to the edge suggests it might have been set into a border with a loop for wearing. Marvin Lessen, The Commonwealth Naval Medals for 1653, BNJ 1997, makes a reference to ‘The enigmatic gold IAM FLORESCIT medal of the early 1660s to cooks and musicians.’
British Medals, Charles II, Coronation 1661, the ‘IAM FLORESCIT’ medal, cast silver, by Thomas Simon, laureate bust l., wearing robes and lace cravat, with Garter Collar and George, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB REX ET DE, rev. the Royal Oak flourishes, crowns of the three kingdoms in its branches, sun in majesty above, IAM FLO-RESCIT, date in ex., 23 APR 1661, 43.5mm. (MI.475/83; Eimer 219; Vertue XXVII; Farquhar 251), small loop and ring for suspension, cast in high relief, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare *bt. Spink & Son, c. 1980s See footnote to previous lot. MI. records the silver specimen in the British Museum as ‘not chased’ – as is this example.
British Medals, Charles II, marriage to Catherine of Braganza, 1662, copper medal, by George Bower, laureate bust of Charles r., hair long, in classical armour, CAROLVS II DG. MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX, rev. bust of Catherine r., hair tied back, lovelock on right shoulder, wearing low cut dress, pearl earring and single strand pearl necklace, CATHARINA DG MAG BR FRA ET HIB REG, 61mm. (MI.491/115), a contemporary cast of excellent quality taken from a struck silver medal, nearly extremely fine and very rare *bt. B. A. Seaby, 1981 MI states ‘This is perhaps the best executed of all the medals by George Bower’.
British Medals, James II, Accession 1685, cast tin or pewter medal, unsigned, legend within and around inner border, FERENDVM ET SPERANDVM, lis stops, in eight lines, IACOBVS II REX ANG SCO FRA ET HIB NAT 15 OCT BAP 24 NOV ANNO 1663 PRIMA SVI REGNI DIE 6 FEB ANNO 1685, rev. large crown over a thirteen stringed harp, A DEO above, smaller legend in field, MAIORA MINORIBVS CONSONANT, outer legend, FVLCITVR EXPERIENTIA, 46.5mm. (MI.603/1; Murdoch 293), good very fine and very rare *ex ‘English Collector’, Glendinings, 16 March 1989, lot 263, part The medal is unlisted in MI. in any base metal, however two (though they could be one and the same) have been noted in recent years, Spink Auction, 26 March 2008 and SNC, July 2010.
British Medals, James II, Accession 1685, silver miniature medal, by Christian Wermuth, bewigged bust, almost full-face, IACOBVS II DG ANG REX, rev. burning lamp on altar, TVEBITVR OMNES, 18mm. (MI.604/5, illus.; Eimer 272; Wohlfahrt -), good very fine with deep, dark tone, extremely rare *ex ‘English Collector’, Glendinings, 16 March 1989, lot 264 Wohlfahrt lists only a single medal for 1685 and no earlier medals.
British Medals, James II and Mary of Modena, Coronation 1685, silver medal from the obverses of the official medals of both the King and Queen, by John Roettier, his laureate, armoured and draped bust r., IACOBVS II DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX, rev. her laureate and draped bust r., MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, 35mm. (MI.606/8; Eimer 273/4, note; Woll.vi/vii), in circular fitted black snakeskin case, on slightly thicker (2.21mm.) and heavier (16.00gms.) flan, struck with some surplus metal covering parts of the toothed borders, extremely fine and very rare *bt. A. H. Baldwin, 1986
British Medals, James II and Mary of Modena, Coronation 1685, small silver complimentary medal, by George Bower, bust of each to either side, he laureate, she with hair tied back and plaited, IACOBVS II DG MAG BRI FRAN ET HIB REX / MARIA DG MAG BRI FRN ET HIB REGINA, 28.5mm. (MI.608/12), the smallest jeweller’s graffiti below bust of James, nearly extremely fine and rare Bower has reversed the Ns in the reverse legend.
British Medals, James II and Mary of Modena, Coronation 1685, small silver complimentary medal, probably Dutch but in the style of George Bower, bust of each to either side, he laureate, she with hair tied back and plaited, IACOBVS II DG MAG BRI FRAN ET HIB REX / MARIA DG MAG BRI FRAN ET HIB REGI, 28mm. (MI.608/13; vL.III, 303), extremely fine and extremely rare *ex ‘English Collector’, Glendinings, 16 March 1989, lot 270
British Medals, James II and Mary of Modena, complimentary silver medal, 1685, by George Bower, conjoined busts r., he laureate and with mantle draped over plain armour, she draped, rev. Sun in Majesty, FORTES RADII SED BENIGNI, 52mm. (MI.610/16; Eimer -; vL. -; Foley -), a contemporary suspension loop added, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare *bt. A. H. Baldwin The reverse legend, which compares the sun with the king, translates: ‘Powerful are its rays, but benignant’, indicating that it would have been struck before the ‘Bloody Assize’. This might explain its rarity. The suspension loop could give the medal added status as a royal gift to be worn by a supporter.
British Medals, James II, Accession and the Throne Protected, 1685, silver medal, by George Bower, laureate bust of the King r., hair long falling over mantle, IACOBVS II DG MAG BRI FRAN ET HI REX, rev. an angel protects the Crown which is placed on a chair of State, TUTAMEN AB ALTO, 43.5mm. (MI.611/18; Eimer -), a magnificent portrait medal, choice mint state and very rare *ex Spink Auction 8, 27 February 1980, lot 467 [Hugh Jessop] The reverse alludes to the supposed success that was expected to follow during James’s reign.
British Medals, William and Mary, The Crown offered to William, 1689 [1688], pewter medal, struck in Holland by Anton Meybusch, laureate and armoured bust r., rev. figures of the three Kingdoms kneel before William who, in antique armour, offers the cap of Liberty, VENI VICI LIBERTATEM REDDIDI – 1688, 61mm. (MI.657/17, illustrated; Woolf 9:4), slight curvature to flan, extremely fine and very rare *ex Noël Woolf Collection, Glendining’s, 4 November 1992, lot 30 The footnote in Medallic Illustrations records that, when offered the Crown by the Convention, on 23/13 February, 1689 [1688], William rejected the idea of conquest [VICI], his intentions being only to preserve the religion, laws and liberties of the three kingdoms.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Jan Smeltzing, conjoined busts of William and Mary r., GULIELM R MARIA REGINA F D P A, rev. an eagle ejects one of its three eaglets from nest, sun shines on distant fleet, NON PATITUR SUPPOSITITIOS, 38mm. (MI.664/29; Woolf 10:4a; cf. vL.III, 379), mount-mark to top edge, mottled tone, good extremely fine and extremely rare *bt. Glendining, 16 March 1988, lot 11
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Georg Hautsch and (rev.) Lazarus Gottlieb Lauffer, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX PR AVR, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, lettered edge, CORONAT D X1 APRIL ANNO MDCLXXXIX, 41mm. (MI.666/35; Erlanger 1617), extremely fine, toned and very rare
British Coins, Victoria, proof sovereign, 1853, young head l., WW incuse, rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (S.3852D; W&R.305 [R3, very rare]; DM.205), issued originally in the special proof sets of this year, few struck, this example with some handling marks but still brilliant, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 62 Cameo The only example graded PF62CAM by PCGS.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, gilt-copper medal, by Georg Hautsch and (rev.) Lazarus Gottlieb Lauffer, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX PR AVR, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, plain edge, 40.5mm. (MI.666/35), extremely fine and very rare *bt. Spink & Son, 1976
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Georg Hautsch and (rev.) Lazarus Gottlieb Lauffer, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX PR AVR, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, lettered edge, REX EST CONQVESTOR REDDITQVE MARIA SALVTEM, 41mm. (MI.667/36), very fine, light toned and, with this edge, extremely rare *ex Sotheby’s, 9 March, 1989, lot 130, part
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silvered white metal medal, by Georg Hautsch and (rev.) Lazarus Gottlieb Lauffer, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REX PR AVR, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, lettered edge, REX EST CONQVESTOR REDDITQVE MARIA SALVTEM, 40.5mm. (MI.667/36, not recorded in this metal), almost extremely fine toned and extremely rare *bt. Spink & Son, 1976
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Georg Hautsch, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HIB REX DEF FID, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, lettered edge, CORONAT WEST.MONAST D XI APRIL ANNO MDCLXXXIX, 40.5mm. (MI.667/37), choice and virtually mint state, rich steel-grey tone and bloom, extremely rare *ex Timothy Millet, List 1, 2001, no 259, bt. 14 May 2001
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Georg Hautsch, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HIB REX DEF FID, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, plain edge, 40.5mm. (MI.667/37), almost extremely fine, very rare *bt. B. A. Seaby, 1976 MI.: ‘The edge is sometimes plain’.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, copper medal, by Georg Hautsch, laureate and draped bust of William r., WILH III DG ANG SCO FR ET HIB REX DEF FID, rev. bust of Mary l., with pearl necklace, MARIA DG ANG SCO FR ET HI REGINA, lettered edge, CORONAT WEST.MONAST D XI APRIL ANNO MDCLXXXIX, 40.5mm. (MI.667/37), extremely fine and very rare *bt. Christopher Eimer, 1985 MI. lists the medal in silver only.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, large silver medal, by R. Arondeaux, the eye of Providence watches over busts vis-à-vis in crowned oval floral frames, over open law book [LEGES ANGLIÆ] and cornucopiae, AUREA POMA MIXTA ROSIS, in ex., DFA WILH HENR ET MARIA M BRIT R, rev. a young orange tree flourishes by a trunk of a fallen oak, distant fleet beyond, MELIOREM LAPSA LOCAVIT, 62.5mm. (MI.668/39; Woolf 10:9; vL.III, 379), choice extremely fine and extremely rare *bt. J. Schulman Auction, Amsterdam, 30 May 1988, lot 735 King James II is represented on the medal’s reverse as the fallen oak, replaced by the Orange tree of the House of Orange.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, copper medal, by Jan Smeltzing, armoured bust of William III r., WILHEL III DG MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, rev. the King in Coronation robes kneels atop the globe, looking to the eye of Providence, DEO JUDICE, 58mm. (MI.670/41; cf. vL.III, 386), as struck, but from lightly rust-marked dies, extremely fine and extremely rare *bt. B. A. Seaby, 1986 MI does not record the medal in copper, however a few examples have been noted (cf. ‘English Collector’, Glendining’s, 16 March 1989, lot 319. MI. records that the obverse is of a type first used in 1693, so suggesting that the medal was struck in or post that year. This in no way diminishes the medal’s extreme rarity.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Jan Smeltzing, bust of William (alone) r., GULIELM III DG BRITANN R RELIG LIBERTATISQ RESTITUT, rev. Royal arms suspended from orange tree, fleeing figures left and right, James II removing the crown and dropping the sceptre, and Father Petre, carrying a pyx, ITE MISSA EST, in ex. in 4 lines, INAUGURATIS MAIESTATIBUS EIECTO PAPATU EXPULSA TYRANNIDE BRITANNIA FELIX 1689, 48.5mm. (MI.671/43; Woolf 10:3a; cf. vL.III, 386), a magnificent medal, mint state with steel-grey tone, extremely rare *bt. Spink & Son, c. 1985 Father Petre - Sir Edward Petre, 3rd Baronet (1631–1699), English Jesuit and a close adviser and privy councillor to James II.
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, silver medal, by Jan Smeltzing, busts vis-à-vis, he laureate, hair long and over lion shoulder-plate to armour, wearing Order, she hair high in front, lovelocks, crucifix brooch on dress, MAIUS PAR NOBILE SCEPTRIS, in ex. G HENR ET MAR PR AUR M BRIT R 1689, rev. rays above Britannia who greets Hollandia on shore with distant fleet, Phrygian cap on plinth to l., M BRIT EXP NAV BAT LIB RESTASSERTA, 58.5mm. (MI.672/44; Eimer 309b; Woolf 10:12; vL.III, 379), extremely fine and very rare *ex Collection Stucker, Émil Bourgey Auction, Paris, 21-23 November 1977, lot 105 bt. B. A. Seaby, 1978
British Medals, William and Mary, Coronation 1689, a Dutch silver medal, unsigned, conjoined busts r., he crowned and in armour, long hair falls over lace collar and wearing Garter Collar and George; she with pearl necklace, GVLIELM ET MARIA DG M B F ET H REX ET REG, rev. crowned oval shield of Royal arms, seven smaller shields of the Provinces around, PRINC AVR ET NASS HIC TERRÆ LÆTITIA, 43.5mm. (MI.674/47; vL.III, 383), pleasing high relief portraits, extremely fine, toned and very rare *ex Busso Peus Auction, 4 November 2011, lot 2776 Christopher Foley Collection, Woolley & Wallis, 16 October 2014, lot 536
British Medals, William & Mary, Coronation 1689, white metal medal, believed by Christian Wermuth, Belgic Lion drives away James II and Father Petre, who holds the infant Prince holding windmill, towards French ship, AVT REX AVT NIHIL, in ex., REFIGVGIVM IAC AD LVD XIV, rev. two figures kneel before Jupiter whilst Saturn devours an infant, GVIL III SVCCESSIT IACABO, 38.5mm. (MI.674/48; Woolf 10:10; Wohlfahrt 89.006; vL.III, 395), very fine but some porosity to surface, extremely rare *ex Noël Woolf Collection, Glendining’s, 4 November 1992, lot 38 MI lists only two specimens.
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