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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 741

Birth of Prince James, the Old Pretender, AR Medal, 1688, 'The Changeling in the Bedpan', unsigned, * INFANTEMQUE VIDENT, APPORRECTUMQUE DRACONEM, Aglauros opening the basket discovers Erichthonius with his dragon tail; roses and thistle lie around, two women run in fright, m.m cinquefoil, rev. TAMEN NASCATUR OPORTET, a withered rosebush with two flowers; at a little distance grows a young sucker, MDCLXXXVIII in exergue, plain edge, 50mm, 45.05g (Eimer-; MI 631/53; Woolf 2:1; van Loon III, 346; Harding 8 this medal), with the most pleasing proof-like surfaces and light cabinet toning, good extremely fine and very rare

A number of medals were published relating to the birth and these inevitably divide into two categories, one supporting the succession, the other casting doubt on the baby's legitimacy. This medal falling into the latter of the two camps.



Pallas committed to the care of three daughters of Cecrops a basket, with a special instruction not to open it. However, once opened out rushed Erichthonius, a progeny of Vulcan, half man and half monster, not born of woman. The roses and thistles point the application of the fable to Great Britain. The three daughters are England, Scotland and Ireland. Erichthonius, could not be of royal blood and therefore must be a pretender, and as the Queen was considered incapable of bearing children, he must have been produced without a mother.



The rosebush represents the King and Queen, who it was generally believed, would never have any children; it was necessary that one should be born, and therefore a young Prince of sucker is seen springing up at such a distance from the parent stock, that it may be doubted from what plant it is produced.

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Sold for
£3,800

Starting price
£800