Leg. o pt im o . p r in c ip i . carolo . i i . d . g . m . b r it . fr a n .
e t . h ib . r e oi. (To the most excellent Prince, Charles II., by
the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.)
Below, Philip . Roti . F.
Rev. A female figure seated, facing, the base of her seat
inscribed l ib e r t a s ; she is enveloped in ample drapery, and
holds a sword and cornucopia in one hand, and book inscribed
f id e s in the other. Leg. f id e i . d e f e n s o r i r e l ig io n is .
r e fo rm a t « . p r o t e c t o r i . (Defender of the Faith, Protector of
the Reformed Religion.)
Edge, a r c h it e c t v r « n avalis e t m o n e t® in s t a v r a t o r i.
(Restorer of naval architecture and the coinage.) Two roses.
2-3. Med. Hist. xxxi. 4. Evelyn, 128.
MB. At. Bibl. Paris, At. Gotha, At. Yery rare.
This medal is very beautiful, though the figure upon the
reverse is somewhat clumsy and ungraceful. It is without date,
but the style of the bust so closely resembles that struck in
1678 upon the foundation of the Nautical School at Christ’s
Hospital (See No. 217), that it is probably of about the same
time; and from the combination of Liberty and Faith on the
reverse it may be supposed to refer to the King’s celebrated
Declaration of Liberty of Conscience, which was dated 15
March, 1672. The inscription on the edge only occasionally
occurs ; it refers to the King’s fondness for naval architecture,
and to the copper coinage which was issued in 1672, and which
superseded the miserable tradesmen’s tokens with which the
country was at that time inundated. The dies of this medal
are in the British Museum.
215. D u c h e s s o f P o r t sm o u th . 1678.
Bust of the Duchess of Portsmouth, r., hair curled in front,
compactly braided behind; loose drapery across the body.
Leg. lv c ia . dvcis sa . po r t sm o v t h e n s is . (Lucy, Duchess of
Portsmouth.)
Rev. Cupid seated, r . , upon a globe. Leg. omnia v in o it .
([Love] conquers all things.—Virg. Eclog. x. 69.)
l ' l . Med. Hist. xxvi. 7. Köhler, VI. 241.
MB. At. Bodley, At. Athole, At. Bibl. Paris, At.
Vienna, At. Stuttgart, At. Gotha, At.
Rare.
This small medal was executed' by George Bower, as a
satirical commemoration of the title of Duchess of Portsmouth
having been conferred on the 19th Aug. 1673, upon
Louisa Renée de Pennecourt de Querouaille, the King’s
mistress.
In the MS. Journal de la Monnaie de Médaillés, Paris, at
fol. 305, is the following entry : “ Il a été frapê des jetons à
Paris, armoriés en lozenge avec le manteau ducal et la couronne
de même, p! la duchesse de Portsmouth : il y a son chiffre au
revers.” None of the jetons here mentioned have been met
with.
216. D u c h e s s o f P o r t sm o u t h . 1673.
Bust of the Duchess of Portsmouth, r., hair drawn back
from the forehead and twisted into a knot behind, from whence
216. Medal of the Duchess of Portsmouth.