medal
- Museum number
- M.6840
- Description
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Cast Bronze Medal. Aftercast. Pierced. (whole)
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Bust of Mary I of England facing left, wearing an elaborate gown, a chemise, a pendant, a cap adorned with jewels, and a veil. Beaded border. (obverse)
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A draped and veiled Vestal, standing at a burning altar, on which she rests her hands. Beaded border. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1554 (circa)
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 66 millimetres
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Weight: 97.19 grammes
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 1, published in 1885, states:
Rare.
It is composed of the obverse of registration no. M.6830 and of the reverse of a medal issued upon the marriage of Maximilian, with Mary the daughter of Charles V, in 1548. (See Van Mieris, Frans, ‘Histori der Nederlandsche Vorsten’, &c., Gravenhaage, 1732-1735, III. 212) Its application to Mary could therefore only be general, common to her with any other bride, intimating her duty to her husband and her God, purity and devotion. The altar upon the example held by the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow is decorated, like that figured in Van Mieris, with a sun bursting from a cloud and the motto, NVBIFVGO. Upon the British Museum specimen the altar is quite plain.
See Pinkerton, J., ‘The Medallic History of England to the Revolution’, London, 1790 (fol.), v. 5.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1860
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- M.6840
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: Attwood 84a
- C&M catalogue number
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MB1 (Medallic Illustrations 1) (73) (21)
