The Christopher Foley, F.S.A., Collection Of Early English Medals - 16th October 2014
Lot 319
Charles I
Estimate £4,000 - £6,000 | Hammer £5500
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Description
Charles I, silver Royalist badge, by Thomas Rawlins, crowned bust of Charles right, wearing ornate lace collar and Garter George on ribbon, CAROLVS DG MAG BRITAN FRAN ET HIB REX FI D, an additional engraved legend, "Semper idem - Martyr Populi" rev., the royal arms within Garter and crowned, additional engraved legend, "Ecclesiae - Patronus", wreath border with roses to both sides, 51.5 x 39.5mm (MI 360/232; Eim. 168; Platt I, pp. 167-171). A stunning example that has been mounted into an 18th century glazed frame with gold edge, original integral suspension loop protrudes, choice extremely fine.
Medals with the additional engraved legend, added after the execution of the king, are extremely rare. The cataloguers of Spink Auction 8, 27 February, 1980, pointed out in the footnote to lot 393 (a similar though un-glazed example), that "examples are lacking from most of the important collections of historical medals".
Prov: Bt. c. Eimer