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Auction: 21124 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 9: British and World Coins & Commemorative Medals
Lot: 6019

Mary, Queen of Scots, Bronzed Electrotype or Cliche of an AE Medal, undated, by James Tassie after Jacopo Primavera (c. 1572,) MARIA STOVVAR REGI SCOTI ANGLI, veiled bust right, wearing small ruff collar, signed IA PRIMAVE, rev. the obverse design incuse, 73mm (cf. MI 118/52), very fine

The Italian artist Jacopo Primavera did not visit England. He worked mainly in France and the Netherlands, and this medal and another, very rare, signed medal of Elizabeth, were probably both executed from portraits which he saw whilst working in the Netherlands. The portrait of Mary is close to the effigy in Westminster Abbey and they are presumably based on the same, now lost, original.

Only two other uniface casts are known, one in the Bibliothèque National, Paris, the other in the British Museum. All other known examples are later struck pieces or electrotypes.

James Tassie (1735-1799) planned a series of medals of the Scottish monarchs, but it was never completed.

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Sold for
£55

Starting price
£50