The Christopher Foley, F.S.A., Collection Of Early English Medals - 16th October 2014

Lot 196

George Villiers

Estimate £150 - £200 | Hammer £130

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Description

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), uniface oval bronzed-lead medal, c. 1628, bust left wearing ruff collar and garter George on ribbon, on 'wavy' background, rev., engraved "G. VILLERS DVKE BVCKIN", 43 x 35mm (Hodgkin 13; MI - ; Platt - ). Very fine and rare.

In 1627 the Duke had failed with his expedition to the Isle de Rhé to help the Huguenots. He was assassinated on 23rd August, 1628, by one John Felton, at the Greyhound Pub in Portsmouth. For another see, "believed to be unique". Whilst the medal seems only to have been published in an auction catalogue, it is by the same hand as that of Sir Edward Coke (see lot 691). The date of manufacture of both these pieces is unclear.

Provenance: Bt. eBay, July, 2011.

Whilst the medal is unpublished in any academic reference, it is almost certainly the Rosenheim specimen. It is clearly by the same hand as that of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (see lot 162). The date of manufacture of both these pieces is unclear.