The Dunbar Locket - a rare 17th century silver Dunbar medal in an early 18th century locket

The Dunbar Locket - a rare 17th century silver Dunbar medal in an early 18th century locket,

oval form, the front with scroll and shell decoration and mounted with the Dunbar medal (type F).

the interior also with an enamelled portrait of Sir Thomas Fairfax, gold surround, the interior with a rope-work border, the reverse with a scene of St. George slaying the dragon, with two ring attachments and rope-work border, length 6cm, approx. weight 1.3oz.

Provenance:

Timothy Millett Historical Medals and Works of Art.

Ronald Lee

Illustrated and written up in: Platt, J. and Platt, A.K., English Civil War: Medals, Historical Commentary and Personalities, Spink, 2014, pages 315-316.

The medal has the portrait bust of Oliver Cromwell, and has the signature of 'T.Simon.FE'. It was intended as a reward for those on the winning Parliamentarian side who took part in the Battle of Dunbar on the third September 1650. Cromwell's army defeated a Scottish force commanded by David Leslie which was loyal to King Charles II of England, who had been proclaimed King in Scotland on 5 February 1649.