- Museum number
- M.7344
- Description
-
Oval silver medal. On both sides broad border of trophies taken from the Dutch, in which appear the shields of Holland and Zealand. (whole)
-
An anchor, from the beams of which are suspended three united shields, bearing St. George's cross for England, St. Andrew's for Scotland, and a harp for Ireland; the cable encircles the whole. (obverse)
-
Naval engagement: in the foreground is a ship sinking, on the stern of which is the artist's name, and on the prow of another, his initials. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1653
- Dimensions
-
Height: 55.000 millimetres
-
Width: 51.000 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 1, published in 1885, states:
Very rare.
At the time of publication of this catalogue the British Museum did not possess an example of this medal.
Hawkins states (1885): “Four of these medals, with rings for suspension, were ordered by the Parliament to be struck in commemoration of naval victories over the Dutch in February, June, and July, 1653. Two with chains of £300 value each, were presented to Blake and Monk; two with chains of £100 value each, to Admirals Penn and Lawson. That of Admiral Penn, with its chain, remains in the possession of his descendant, Colonel William Stuart of Tempsford Hall, Beds. That in Her Majesty's possession is the one described in Van Loon as belonging to the Greffier Fagel, and which he erroneously supposes to be chased, not struck. The third specimen, formerly in the possession of Captain John Hamilton, was sold with the rest of his collection in May, 1882.
For a fuller description of this and the three following medals see Numismatic Chronicle, The, and Journal of the Numismatic Society, London, XIII. p. 102. The original die of the reverse of this medal is in the British Museum. Recent imitations are not uncommon, and are easily distinguished by the absence of the artist's initials on the obverse, and on the reverse the sinking ship is inscribed, A. SIMON.”
See Pinkerton, J., ‘The Medallic History of England to the Revolution’, London, 1790 (fol.), xxiii. 1; 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], II. 366; Vertue, George, ‘Medals, Coins, Great Seals, &c., of T. Simon, Chief Engraver of the Mint to K. Charles the 1st, &c.’ [London], 1753, xvi.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Naval Reward
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- M.7344
- C&M catalogue number
-
MB1 (Medallic Illustrations 1) (398) (26)