Spink
Auction 23148 31 May 2023
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Coronation of James I and Anne of Denmark, Official AR Medal, 25 July 1603, by Charles Anthony for the Royal Mint, IAC : I : BRIT : CÆ : AVG : HÆ CÆSARVM CÆ • D • D • laureate, draped and armoured bust right, rev. • ECCE • PHAOS : POPVLIQ • SALVS, rampant lion crowned, holding beacon and wheatsheaf, 29mm, 6.06g (Eimer 80; MI i 191/11; Woolaston 1), harshly cleaned and plugged, yet with some toning to obverse legend, pleasingly struck-up, almost extremely fine for strike and sought after as the first official Coronation Medal in the British series.
Provenance
'CA', by private treaty, 1985 - £55, ,
On this English Coronation medal, the first of those struck for distribution at a Westminster Abbey ceremony, James I appears in the costume of a Roman Emperor; 'Caesar Augustus of Britain. Caesar the heir of the Caesars'. Not only does this draw upon the traditions of the powerful Holy Roman Emperors, but it also points towards the result of English and Scottish political progress. Coming to the English throne, already King of Scotland, James wished to be proclaimed as 'King' of Great Britain - a show of ultimate unification after centuries of internecine conflict.
, ,
However, this would not be possible without the assent of the English Parliament, and thus "Emperor" provided a suitable alternative to demonstrate his ambition. The laurels that rest upon his head therefore, much like his subsequent recoinage of 1619, are a further hint of his aims, imbuing the ancient symbol of both triumph and rejoicing.
, ,
There were a number of "firsts" to occur at the Coronation of James I and his Consort, Anne of Denmark. James was the first Scottish king to be crowned sitting on the Stone of Scone (concealed within St Edward's ancient Coronation chair since the crowning of King Edward II in 1307), and his ceremony was the first to be conducted in English, rather than Latin. The joint coronation would also revive a tradition last witnessed at the service of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon.
, ,
The Coronation was scheduled for the feast day of the king's namesake, St James, and this remained even as fears of plague worsened. In circumstances remarkably similar to recent years, fears of infection meant that many measures were taken to ensure a slimmed down affair. Less than a week before Coronation day, organisers announced that the traditional procession would be much reduced, it would be forbidden to use boats on the river to sight-see, and the customary banquet would be cancelled. James was anxious about these changes, knowing that his legitimacy relied upon as many nobility of the realm confirming their acceptance.
, ,
A surviving account of the service relays how the event was unduly delayed and poorly attended while the rain poured outside. However, in spite of the atrocious weather and plague; the streets about the Abbey were packed. Within the abbey, the Earl of Montgomery as liege man kissed the king's cheek in homage, rather than just touching his newly-crowned head - to which James responded with a gentle tap on the wrist. This momentous event brought the 'auld enemies' of Scotland and England together under one kingship, the 'Union of the Crowns' and was an historic volta in the story of the United Kingdom as we recognise it today.
, ,
Spink wishes to thank Ella Mackenzie for the investigative historical research
Estimate: £300 - £400
Provenance
'CA', by private treaty, 1985 - £55, ,
On this English Coronation medal, the first of those struck for distribution at a Westminster Abbey ceremony, James I appears in the costume of a Roman Emperor; 'Caesar Augustus of Britain. Caesar the heir of the Caesars'. Not only does this draw upon the traditions of the powerful Holy Roman Emperors, but it also points towards the result of English and Scottish political progress. Coming to the English throne, already King of Scotland, James wished to be proclaimed as 'King' of Great Britain - a show of ultimate unification after centuries of internecine conflict.
, ,
However, this would not be possible without the assent of the English Parliament, and thus "Emperor" provided a suitable alternative to demonstrate his ambition. The laurels that rest upon his head therefore, much like his subsequent recoinage of 1619, are a further hint of his aims, imbuing the ancient symbol of both triumph and rejoicing.
, ,
There were a number of "firsts" to occur at the Coronation of James I and his Consort, Anne of Denmark. James was the first Scottish king to be crowned sitting on the Stone of Scone (concealed within St Edward's ancient Coronation chair since the crowning of King Edward II in 1307), and his ceremony was the first to be conducted in English, rather than Latin. The joint coronation would also revive a tradition last witnessed at the service of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon.
, ,
The Coronation was scheduled for the feast day of the king's namesake, St James, and this remained even as fears of plague worsened. In circumstances remarkably similar to recent years, fears of infection meant that many measures were taken to ensure a slimmed down affair. Less than a week before Coronation day, organisers announced that the traditional procession would be much reduced, it would be forbidden to use boats on the river to sight-see, and the customary banquet would be cancelled. James was anxious about these changes, knowing that his legitimacy relied upon as many nobility of the realm confirming their acceptance.
, ,
A surviving account of the service relays how the event was unduly delayed and poorly attended while the rain poured outside. However, in spite of the atrocious weather and plague; the streets about the Abbey were packed. Within the abbey, the Earl of Montgomery as liege man kissed the king's cheek in homage, rather than just touching his newly-crowned head - to which James responded with a gentle tap on the wrist. This momentous event brought the 'auld enemies' of Scotland and England together under one kingship, the 'Union of the Crowns' and was an historic volta in the story of the United Kingdom as we recognise it today.
, ,
Spink wishes to thank Ella Mackenzie for the investigative historical research
Estimate: £300 - £400