Charles II

Charles II, marriage to Catherine of Braganza, silver medal, 1662, by George Bower, laureate and armoured bust of Charles right, the armour with lion shoulder-plate, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, rev., bust of Catherine right, her hair held back with small Portuguese tiara, CATHARINA DG MAG BRIT FRAN HIB REG, lettered edge, HINC PROGENIEM VIRTVTE FVTVRAM EGREGIAM ET TOTV QVÆ VIRIBVS OCCVPET ORBVM, 54mm (MI 482/94). Nearly extremely fine.

The medal is most usually found with the edge reading SIC SINE FINE DVOS AMBIAT VNVS AMOR, whilst others are found with a plain edge. This, in common with the specimen in the Ashmolean Museum [Bodley Collection], has the error ORBVM for ORBEM.

Provenance: Leipziger Münzhandlung Auction, 20 April, 2013 (lot 1039).