medal
- Museum number
- 1906,1103.4220
- Description
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Lead medal. (whole)
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Draped bust of Thomas Paine bare head, right. (obverse)
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Man standing attended by two others regarding a mountain. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1793
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 32.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Brown 1980 states:
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) revolutionary. Wrote 'Rights of Man' 1790-92 and was compelled to fly to France becoming a French citizen in 1792. He was arrested for opposing the execution of Louis XVI, but his life was saved by the fall of Robespierre. Whilst in prison he completed the 'Age of Reason' 1793 which increased the odium in which he was held in England; no doubt this occasioned the two medals. The quotation "The Mountain in Labour" which in full is "The Mountains are in labour, an absurd mouse will be born, (Horace)" presumably refers to his 'Age of Reason'. Paine died in New York in 1809.
Bibliography: Dalton, R. and Hamer, S. H. 'The provincial token-coinage of the 18th century', London, 1910, Middx. 208.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- 1906,1103.4220
- C&M catalogue number
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MB3 (Brown 1) (85) (365)