medal
- Museum number
- G3,EM.138
- Description
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Silver medal. (whole)
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Busts conjoined, right, of William and Mary, both draped; he is laureate. (obverse)
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On a pedestal, inscribed, is a statue of William III, in Roman costume, resting his right hand upon his sword, and holding the model of a church on his left. At the side of the pedestal are figures of Time and History recording his career. Over him, rays from heaven. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1689 (circa)
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 52.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 1, published in 1885, states:
Rare.
The edge is generally without inscription. This medal being without date, the exact occasion of its issue cannot be well ascertained, but it is probably one of the earliest struck after William and Mary were placed upon the throne. In ancient monuments a church is generally placed in the hands of a founder or great benefactor, William is, therefore, here recognized as the restorer of the Church of England; the position of his sword intimates that the kingdom is at peace, and the rays over his head show him to be an instrument of heaven. The double constellation, referred to in the inscription on the edge, is William and Mary.
See Rapin de Thoyras, Paul, ‘The Metallick History of the Reigns of William III and Queen Mary, Queen Anne, and King George I. [N. Tindal’s edition.], London, 1747, ii. 4; Van Loon, Gerard, ‘Histoire Métallique des XVII. Provinces des Pays-Bas’, 5 vol. La Haye, 1732-1837 (fol) [There is also an edition in Dutch, but with different paging], III. 383.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: William III restoring the Church
- Acquisition date
- 1825
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- G3,EM.138
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: H25
- C&M catalogue number
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MB1 (Medallic Illustrations 1) (658) (18)