medal
- Museum number
- M.9010
- Description
-
Lead medal - no reverse. (whole)
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Bust of Anne Boleyn, three-quarters, left, pedimental headdress, with large veil at back, cross hanging from necklace, low dress and mantle over shoulders. In the field, initials. (obverse)
- Production date
- 1534
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 38.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
-
- Curator's comments
- Medallic Illustrations 1, published in 1885, states:
Unique?
Probably cast from a carving in wood or hone-stone.
Hawkins states (1885): "Anne Boleyn, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, married publicly 12 April, 1534, and beheaded 19 May, 1535. This medallion commemorates her coronation, which took place on Whitsun - Monday, 1 June, 1534, and her dress as given on this piece corresponds with contemporary records of the ceremony of that day."
In fact, Anne’s coronation was held on 1 June 1533. The medal may therefore have been devised to celebrate the birth of Anne and Henry’s second child, for records show that Anne was pregnant in 1534, but she either miscarried or gave birth to a still born baby. Anne was in fact married publicly in 1533 and beheaded in 1536.
The most likely interpretation of the letters A R is that they refer to Anne herself as ANNA REGINA (Queen Anne).
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2015, 16 Mar - 19 Jul, Paris, Musee de Luxembourg, Les Vrais Tudors
2009 9 Apr-3 Aug, London, Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII, 500th Anniversary
2012 27 Apr-9 Sep, London, National Maritime Museum, Royal River
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Coronation of Anne Boleyn
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- M.9010
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: E H leads (11 24)
- C&M catalogue number
-
MB1 (Medallic Illustrations 1) (34) (22)
