The Christopher Foley, F.S.A., Collection Of Early English Medals - 16th October 2014
Lot 150
Henry Frederick
Estimate £500 - £600 | Hammer £500
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Description
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1594-1612), death, silver medal, 1612, by Charles Anthony, bust of Prince Henry three-quarters left, in decorated armour and lace collar, HENRICVS PRINCEPS, rev., crowned shield of arms, FAX MENTIS HONESTÆ GLORIA, 28.5mm (MI 200/29; H & P Pl. 27, 7; Farquhar I, 214). Very fine and very rare.
The reverse legend, FAX MENTIS HONESTÆ GLORIA, was used as a motto by Prince Henry and James I was to use it some 7 years later as the motto for the Knights of Nova Scotia. It is a quotation from a long and truly epic poem, Silius Italicus's Punica, Book vi, 332; translates as "Glory is the flame of an honourable mind".
Provenance: Bt. S. Lipton, November, 2000.