Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24006 - British and World Coins
Lot: 176

Coronation of William III and Mary II, Official AR Medal, 11 April 1689, by Jan Roettier by the Royal Mint, GVLIELMVS • ET • MARIA • REX • ET • REGINA •, laureate and draped conjoined busts right, rev. NE TOTVS ABSVMATVR, Jove hurls thunder at Phaethon falling from his chariot, INAVGVRAT • 11 • AP 1689 in exergue in two lines, edge plain, 35mm, 16.54g (Eimer 312; Mi i 662/25; van Loon III, 379), scratched to the reverse, obverse wiped, nonetheless toned to the depths of the recesses, lustrous to the reverse, pleasing very fine

Provenance

The Paternoster Collection of English Gold and Silver Coins


William and Mary is the first Coronation medal to depict a conjoined Royal double portrait; in direct recognition of the assent of Parliament to their crowning as equals, rather than Queen Mary II and William of Orange, her Prince Consort. On the obverse, they are addressed simply as King and Queen (REX ET REGINA), omitting the sensitive constitutional issue that they had yet to be offered the Scottish crown at the time of their English Coronation.

As exceedingly beautiful as the workmanship of Roettier is here, the design was widely questioned by contemporaries. Some interpreted the iconography of Jove throwing a thunderbolt against Phatron, who falls into the flaming earth as an emblem of William and Mary courting disaster by seizing the reins of her father's chariot. More likely, the intention was to imply that the couple had saved the kingdom from near disaster by the arrogant James II. Perhaps the decision to focus on past failings rather than hopeful prospects was a misplaced judgment, nevertheless the aim to lend legitimacy to their new reign was clear.

As equals, William III and Mary II both used Coronations chairs, with Mary's having to be made specifically for the event alongside additional regalia. The duplication of insignia could be to blame for one particular blunder when the Queen's ruby ring was accidently placed on the King's finger. As a result of their 'Glorious' or 'Bloodless' Revolution, other alterations were made to their accession service. The two were required to swear to govern according to the statutes of Parliament, and more significantly to plead their loyalty to the maintenance of the Protestant religion, neither of which had been undertaken before.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£200 to £300

Starting price
£140