Lot 321
A SILVER PRINCE CHARLES AND PRINCE HENRY, LEGITIMACY OF THE JACOBITE SUCCESSION MEDALLION
OTTONE HAMERANI (1694 – 1764), STRUCK ROME 1731
Scottish Works of Art & Whisky
Auction: 16 August 2023 at 11:00 BST
Description
obverse, the right-facing bust of Prince Charles with star in field, motto MICATE INTER OMNES, reverse the left-facing bust of Prince Henry with motto ALTER. AS. ILLO, the edge with raised motto DIE. XXXI. DECEMBR. MDCCXX. EXTVLIT. OS. SACRVM. COELO
Dimensions
42mm diameter, 37.7g
Provenance
Provenance:
Property of a Gentleman – Previously from the collection of Sir Colin MacRae (1869-1952) of Feorlinn and Lady Margaret Crichton Stuart (1875-1964)
Footnote
References:
‘The Medallic Record of the Jacobite Movement’, N Woolf, item 43:1
‘British Commemorative Medals, and their values’, C Eimer, item 521
Note:
Two main types of this classic 'Two Princes' medallion exist: those without edge lettering, and the rarer type, such as this, with the additional motto to the edge. Struck in 1731 to mark Prince Charles 11th birthday it shows an almost 7-year-old Prince Henry on the reverse. Unusually neither of the princes is mentioned by name, perhaps suggesting hope of a widespread dispersal of this medallion not just on the Continent but also on British soil.
It is recorded one of these was sent by King James to Bishop Atterbury and is mentioned in contemporary correspondence. Showing not only the close relationship James and Clementina had in the production of these medallions but the value they placed in them being seen in high circles of society, further making the claim of their legitimacy and now a claim with heirs.