Lot 14
JACOBITE SILVER PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AT GERTRUYDENBERG MEDALLION
NORBERT ROETTIER (1665 - 1727), STRUCK 1710
Fine Furniture and Works of Art
Auction: 2 May 2018 at 11:00 BST
Description
Obverse; laureate and armoured bust of Price James with legend CVIS. EST
Reverse; map of Great Britain and Ireland with ships around and motto REDDITE in banner above
Dimensions
Diameter: 38mm, weight: 20.2g
Footnote
Note: The political and religious turmoil in early 1700s in Europe lead to peace negotiations to try and restore normality to the continent. This aimed to settle the landscape and the Jacobites hoped that new stability would increase the chances of the British wanting the return of the exiled King James.
It is considered that this is the medallion that was discussed by Abel Boyer when he wrote "About this time (July 1710) a medal was dispersed in the Netherlands by the Chevalier de St George's Friends….. This medal was undoubtedly struck at this juncture upon the fond hopes given by Jacobites in England, to their Correspondents in France, that the British Court and Nation were ready to invite the Pretender…. But whatever ground there was for such an expectation things were not yet ripe enough for the Pretenders Friends to throw of the Mask."
Struck in silver and bronze (and extremely rarely in gold) this is a rare example of an early medallion at a point when the exiled king still held hopes of regaining the throne.
References:
Woolf, N., 'The Medallic Record of the Jacobite Movement', item 23.1b
Eimer, C., 'British Commemorative Medals, and their values', item 449a