- Museum number
- M.6802
- Description
-
Gold medal. (whole)
-
Bust of Henry VIII, right, on his bead a cap decorated with jewels, his robe ermined, a splendid collar of rubies over his shoulders. There is an inscription in two circles divided into four parts by the Royal badges, the Rose, Portcullis, Fleur-de-lis, and Harp, each crowned. (obverse)
-
Inscriptions in Hebrew and Greek of the same import as the legend on the obverse. After the inscriptions, roses and trefoils. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1545
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 54.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
-
-
-
-
- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 1, published in 1885, states:
Very rare.
Hawkins states (1885): Imitations cast and chased occur, but are of no value. After a severe struggle the clergy recognized Henry as their sole Protector, the only and supreme lord of the church and clergy of England, and, as far as allowable by the law of Christ, even its supreme head. This occurred in 1531, but the titles were not fully confirmed by Parliament before 1534, and were not formally proclaimed till 15 January, 1535. This medal was no doubt struck in commemoration of this acknowledgment of his supremacy.”
See Pinkerton, J., ‘The Medallic History of England to the Revolution’, London, 1790 (fol.), iv. 1; Perry, Francis, ‘A Series of English Medals’, London, 1762, i. 6; Van Mieris, Frans, ‘Histori der Nederlandsche Vorsten’, &c., Gravenhaage, 1732-1735, II. 382; Vetusta Monumenta, &c, London, 1747, I. Pl. lxii; Evelyn, John, ‘A Discourse of Medals ancient and modern, &c’, London, 1697 (fol.), 88.
The British Museum also holds a silver version of this medal - registration no. M.6801.
- Location
- On display (G46/dc6)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2012 19 Jul-25 Nov, London, BM Shakespeare: Staging the World
1996 4-12 Mar, USA, Malibu, J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa, BMDT Presentation
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- M.6802
- C&M catalogue number
-
MB1 (Medallic Illustrations 1) (47) (44)
