- Museum number
- M.2250
- Description
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Cast silver medal. (whole)
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Conjoined busts of Louis XIII and Marie de Medici. He is wearing armour, a sash and the cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit, she a veil and a large ruff. (obverse)
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Louis XIII as Apollo, naked, his head surrounded by rays, holding in his left hand an orb decorated with three fleurs de lys and surmounted by a cross above which shines a star. He is looking up to Marie de Medici, as Minerva, who is seated. She holds an olive branch in her right hand and a thunderbolt in her left hand. A trophy is visible to her right. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1611
- Dimensions
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Thickness: 2.50 - 6.40 millimetres
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Diameter: 49.500 millimetres
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Weight: 42.82 grammes
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Jones 2
Composition of medal: 85.5% Cu, < 0.2% Zn, 13.4% Sn, 0.4% Pb.
The reverse composition is a modified version of that on registration no. 1906,1103.1400. The reduction in vertical space brought about by the circular format has forced Dupré to seat the Queen, bring the King's right arm below the horizontal and move the star from its position directly above the orb. He has also introduced a trophy behind Marie, although it is not clear to what military victory this refers.
The new composition emphasises the Regent's superior status. On the reverse she is seated while the young King stands and the obverse, which in the previous year had shown Louis alone, described in the legend as son of Henri the Great, now shows her as Augusta to his Rex.
Other examples:
(a) Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Nationale, 58 rue de Richelieu, 75084 Paris, France, Sér. Roy 370, cast silver, 48 mm.
(b) Albert I Royal Library, Brussels, bronze, 47 mm. Aftercast.
(c) Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche, Milan, Italy, lead, 50 mm. Diseased.
(d) Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7, A356-1910 (Salting Bequest), bronze, 48 mm.
(e) Civici Musei, Brescia, Italy, bronze.
(f) Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Bodley Foreign Medals 114, 49.5 mm. Probably original.
(g) Ashmolean, Bodley Foreign Medals 115, bronze, 49 mm. Pierced, original.
(h) Ashmolean, Bodley Foreign Medals 116, bronze, 47.5 mm. Aftercast.
(i) National Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, silver, 45 mm.
Bibliography:
1. J. de Bie La France Métallique pl. 105 no. 19 and p. 315.
2. T.N. Méd. Fr. II pl. 5 no. 1.
3. Rizzini II p. 96, no. 4.
4. Mazerolle II no. 664.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Regency of Marie de Medici
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- M.2250
- C&M catalogue number
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MF2 (Jones 2) (75) (33)