James I

James I, the Peace or Treaty with Spain, cast silver medal, by Nicholas Hilliard, 1604, with integral decorative openwork border, bust three-quarters right wearing flamboyant plumed hat and falling lace collar over a doublet, IACOBVS DG ANG SCO FR ET HIB REX, rev., the figures of Religion, holding cross and beacon-light facing Peace supporting cornucopia and palm branch, HINC PAX COPIA CLARAQ RELIGIO, 41.5mm (MI 194/15; Eim. 84; Farquhar I, 160; vL II, 19). A good quality cast, some light tooling, good very fine and scarce.

This year marks the 410th anniversary of the Treaty. There seems little dispute that the struck gold example in the British Museum is the work of that most famous painter of miniatures, Nicholas Hilliard, as discussed by Barclay. C. and Syson. L., "A Medal Die Rediscovered - A new work by Nicholas Hilliard", The Medal, no.22, Spring 1993, figs. 5 & 9. These cast examples were probably made as cap and coat badges.

Provenance: Bt. R. Falkiner.