Prince James

Prince James, the True-Born Prince of Wales and Elder Pretender, silver medal, 1697, by Norbert Roettier, draped and armoured youthful bust left with flowing hair, the breast-plate with sun in majesty, IACOBVS WALLIÆ PRINCEPS, rev., a storm tossed ship, her masts bare, 1697 IACTATVR NON MERGITVR VNDIS, 45mm (MI 192/500; Eimer 373; Woolf 14:1; vL IV, 188). Extremely fine, lightly toned and very rare.

The obverse die of this medal is in the British Museum. Following the Peace of Ryswick Louis XIV was no longer able to support the Catholic James II in his hopes to regain the British throne. This (and several other medals) were struck to draw attention to the circumstances of the Stuart family, their fortunes, like the ship, distressed but not destroyed.

Provenance: Baldwin Auction, 24 September, 2013 (lot 5269).