Admiral Robert Blake (1598-1657)

Admiral Robert Blake (1598-1657), "General of the Sea", 1649, gilt-metal electrotype copy of the restitutional medal by Stuart, bust of Blake, turned almost full-face, wearing ruff collar and embroidered doublet, rev., a naval engagement with ships sinking, stern of nearest signed 'A SIMON', leaf border to both sides, 55 x 44mm (MI 401/31; MH 39), suspension loop and gold ring. Good very fine and very rare.

The medal, as MI points out, is a fabrication, with the obverse copied from MI 401/30 and the reverse from the Naval Reward (MI 398/26).

Provenance: Bt. D. Fearon, September 2010.