24. R e b e l l io n in I r e l a n d . 1689.
Bust of William III., r., laureate, hair long, in armour, with
lion s head on the breast, and ample mantle. Leg. g u il l e l .
I l l . D . G . PRINC . AURA . RELI . LIBER . QUE . RESTI. (William
III., by the grace of God, Prince of Orange, Restorer of Religion
and Liberty.)
Rev. On a hill rests the ark of the covenant; on one side
are warriors with shields of England and Holland suppliant;
above them the rays of heaven, amid which appears a-warrior
armed with thunder and the shield of Nassau, and above his
head em a n u e l ; from the clouds beneath his feet issue lightnings
against the warriors of France and Ireland. In the
foreground, the Pope with the young Prince, and Father Petre
with the insignia of Popery, flee dismayed.
2-05. Rapin, i. 8. Van Loon, III. 366.
MB. 2R. P. H. Yan Gelder, R,. Leipzig, lead.
Yery rare.
This medal, though unsigned, is the work of Jan Luder.
I t was probably executed early in 1689, a little before William’s
coronation. The French King had espoused the cause of
James, and Ireland was already in a state of revolt against the
Protestants, the civil and military power having been placed by
James in the hands of the Roman Catholics. James landed in
Ireland 12 March, 1689, with an army of 2,500 soldiers under
the command of General de Rosen. Providence is here represented
as aiding William in his defence of the religion and
liberty of the kingdom.
25. C o r on a t io n . April, 1689.
Busts conjoined, r., of William and Mary, both draped; he,
hair long, is laureate. Leg. g v l ie lm v s . e t . maria . r e x .
ET . REGINA.
Rev. Jove thunders against Phaethon, falling from his
chariot; the earth in flames. Leg. n e totvs absvmatvr .
(That it may not all be consumed.) Ex. inavgvrat . i i . ap .
1689. (Crowned, 11 April, 1689.)
l -85. Rapin, ii. 1. Van Loon, III. 879.
MB. N . iR. lead. Common.
There were at least two pairs of dies used for the production
of these medals, varying very slightly. This was the official
coronation medal struck for distribution among the spectators,
and executed by John Roettier. It far exceeds in beauty of
workmanship all the other medals commemorating this event.
James, unable to manage the reins of government, is displaced
that the whole empire may not be destroyed. The adherents
of James gave another interpretation. They considered Phaethon
as an emblem of William and Mary exposing themselves
to ruin by,assuming the reins of their father’s chariot; while
others suggested that the chariot was that of Tullia, who drove
over the remains of her dethroned father. (See A Letter from a
Gentleman in the Country to his Correspondent in the City,
concerning the Coronation Medal, Somers’ Tracts (1813), Vol. x.
p. 209; and also Tarquin and Tullia, Drvden’s Works (1821),
Vol. xv. p. 270.)
26. C o ro n a t io n , -gy April, 1689.
Busts conjoined, r., of William and Mary, both draped. He,
hair long, is laureate; she has lovelock on right shoulder.
Leg. GVLIELMVS . ET . MARIA . D . G . ANG . FRA . ET . HIB . REX .
e t . r e g in a . f id : d e f : &c. Below, g b . f . (George Bower
fecit.)
Rev. Perseus delivering Andromeda from a sea monster.
Leg. pr e t iv m q . e t . cavsa . la b o r is . (The reward and cause
of the undertaking.—Ovid, Met. iv. 738.) Ex. 1689.
l -45. Rapin, ii. 3. Van Loon, III. 879.
MB. N . R . Common.
Executed in England by George Bower.
27. C or on a t io n , -g-y April, 1689.