Spink
Auction 23148 31 May 2023
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Coronation of Charles II, Official AR Medal, 23 April 1661, by Thomas Simon for the Royal Mint, CAROLVS • II • D • G ANG • SCO • FR • ET • HI • REX, crowned and draped bust right, rev. EVERSO • MISSVS • SVCCVRRERE • SECLO • XXIII • APR • 1661, the King enthroned, crowned by Peace hovering above, 28mm, 8.41g (Eimer 221; MI i 472/76; Nat 36-7), disturbance to rim at 12 o'clock, and with rub to higher points and some faint contact marks in fields, otherwise with darker grey tone, near very fine.
Charles II's Coronation, his second after previous acclamation at Scone in 1651, marked the full restoration of monarchy to England, after an eleven-year hiatus under the Puritan Republic of the Commonwealth. His medal reflects a restored King 'sent to support a fallen age'. The effect is both hopeful and confident, with the enthroned king's image on the medal clearly desirous to heal any lingering religious or political tension. The engraver is entirely symbolic of this healing process, being crafted by the renowned Thomas Simon who had earlier commissioned the Commonwealth Seal of State and a silver coinage bearing the effigy of Cromwell in 1658, and would subsequently conceive the 'Petition Crown', widely considered one of the most beautiful British coins ever made.
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The Coronation ceremony itself was also carefully planned to create a sense of rebirth, celebration and optimism for the future. Virtually all the regalia (save the 12th Century anointing Spoon) had to remade due to its previous destruction in 1649. The reversing of this iconoclasm was masterminded by Royal goldsmith Robert Vyner, whose instruments of state - the Orb, Sceptre and Sword of Offering survive to the present day. Despite an incident in 1671 resulting in the cross atop the orb becoming bent at the hands of one Colonel Thomas Blood and his audacious colleagues who conspired to steal the Crown Jewels by hiding them in their breeches, the immutable glister of gold helped to wash away the unhappy years and restore the majesty of monarchy's splendour.
, ,
On St George's Day morning the Coronation took place. The famous diarists John Evelyn and Samuel Pepys were both present and their descriptions of the day give a taste of the country's uplifted mood. Evelyn commented on the lively city, noting the 'houses hung with rich tapestry [...] the fountains running wine, bells ringing, with speeches made at several triumphal arches.' Pepys was one of the thousands who actually attended the service, the first to feature tiered seating within the Abbey. In his diary, he marvels at the majesty of the ceremony: 'Now, after all this, I can say that, besides the pleasure of the sight of these glorious things, I may now shut my eyes against any other objects'. He had also witnessed the silver medals flung to the crowds by Lord Cornwallis, but failed to obtain one himself. The coronation was a splendid one, with nothing of the old traditions omitted.
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Spink wishes to thank Ella Mackenzie for the investigative historical research
Estimate: £120 - £180
Charles II's Coronation, his second after previous acclamation at Scone in 1651, marked the full restoration of monarchy to England, after an eleven-year hiatus under the Puritan Republic of the Commonwealth. His medal reflects a restored King 'sent to support a fallen age'. The effect is both hopeful and confident, with the enthroned king's image on the medal clearly desirous to heal any lingering religious or political tension. The engraver is entirely symbolic of this healing process, being crafted by the renowned Thomas Simon who had earlier commissioned the Commonwealth Seal of State and a silver coinage bearing the effigy of Cromwell in 1658, and would subsequently conceive the 'Petition Crown', widely considered one of the most beautiful British coins ever made.
, ,
The Coronation ceremony itself was also carefully planned to create a sense of rebirth, celebration and optimism for the future. Virtually all the regalia (save the 12th Century anointing Spoon) had to remade due to its previous destruction in 1649. The reversing of this iconoclasm was masterminded by Royal goldsmith Robert Vyner, whose instruments of state - the Orb, Sceptre and Sword of Offering survive to the present day. Despite an incident in 1671 resulting in the cross atop the orb becoming bent at the hands of one Colonel Thomas Blood and his audacious colleagues who conspired to steal the Crown Jewels by hiding them in their breeches, the immutable glister of gold helped to wash away the unhappy years and restore the majesty of monarchy's splendour.
, ,
On St George's Day morning the Coronation took place. The famous diarists John Evelyn and Samuel Pepys were both present and their descriptions of the day give a taste of the country's uplifted mood. Evelyn commented on the lively city, noting the 'houses hung with rich tapestry [...] the fountains running wine, bells ringing, with speeches made at several triumphal arches.' Pepys was one of the thousands who actually attended the service, the first to feature tiered seating within the Abbey. In his diary, he marvels at the majesty of the ceremony: 'Now, after all this, I can say that, besides the pleasure of the sight of these glorious things, I may now shut my eyes against any other objects'. He had also witnessed the silver medals flung to the crowds by Lord Cornwallis, but failed to obtain one himself. The coronation was a splendid one, with nothing of the old traditions omitted.
, ,
Spink wishes to thank Ella Mackenzie for the investigative historical research
Estimate: £120 - £180