St. James's Auctions
Auction 74 12-13 Apr 2023
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James, Duke of York [later James II], Shipwrecked, gilt-pewter medal, 1682, by George Bower, draped bust of James r., with long hair, rev. the ship up against a rocky shore, a small boat rowing to shore, IMPAVIDUM FERIVUT, 41.5mm. (MI.586/263; Eimer 264; MH.68), an old, perhaps contemporary, cast of this exceedingly rare medal, some porosity, very fine
The reverse image has elements of truth. The Duke's ship, the Gloucester, was sailing for Scotland from where the Duke had planned to fetch the Duchess, but off the coast of Norfolk she ran onto the Lemon and Oar sandbank. The Duke, with some others, got away to land in the pinnace. The ship's crew managed to move her to deep water, not realising how badly she had been damaged, and she promptly sank. Amongst those saved was John Churchill, later to become the Duke of Marlborough.
Estimate: 80 - 120 GBP
The reverse image has elements of truth. The Duke's ship, the Gloucester, was sailing for Scotland from where the Duke had planned to fetch the Duchess, but off the coast of Norfolk she ran onto the Lemon and Oar sandbank. The Duke, with some others, got away to land in the pinnace. The ship's crew managed to move her to deep water, not realising how badly she had been damaged, and she promptly sank. Amongst those saved was John Churchill, later to become the Duke of Marlborough.
Estimate: 80 - 120 GBP