Charles II

Charles II, the Rye House Plot, silver medal, 1683, by George Bower, Charles, naked, as Hercules, wards off a Hydra with seven human heads, PERIBVNT FVLMINIS ICTV, rev., a shepherd watches his flock, a distant panorama of London beyond, two wolves hang from gibbet, DEVS NOBIS HÆC OTIA FECIT, 45.5mm (MI 593/274; Eim. 265). Very fine, but edge bruised and several scuffs and scratches, extremely rare.

The Plot took its name from Rye House, a manor in Hoddeston, Hertfordshire, owned by a well known Republican, Richard Rumbold. The plan was to conceal a force of 100 men in the grounds of the house and ambush the King and the Duke of York on their return to London after the races at Newmarket. However a fortunate fire forced the King's party to return early and the attack was thwarted. The Hydra represents the Devil together with the members of the plot, Monmouth, Lord William Russell, Hampden, Algernon Sidney, the Earl of Essex and Algernon Sidney, with the wolves on the gibbet being Sidney and Russell, who were tried by Judge George Jeffreys and beheaded.

Provenance: Baldwin Auction, 25 September, 2006 (lot 1264).