2-7.
MB. M.
Cast and chased. This medal is much inferior in style and
work to any of the previous ones, and was probably executed
in England.
77. M a r y , Q u e e n o e S c o t s . C o u n t e r . 1579.
Shield of Scotland, crowned. Leg. m a r i a . d e i . g . s c o t o r .
REGINA.
Rev. A hand from clouds pruning a withered branch from a
vine. Leg. v i r e s c i t . w l n e r e . v i r t v s . (Virtue is strengthened
by affliction.) m. m. Cross.
1‘1. Pemb. Cat. P. 4, T. 27. De Bie, PI. 62. AndersoD,
Thes. PL clxv. 28.
MB. At. Hunter, jit. Athole, At. Bibl. Paris, AEt. M.
This counter was probably struck in France, not commemorating
any particular event, but preaching patience under afflictions,
as Virtue flourishes under sufferings. Comparing this piece
with Nos. 80-82 there can be little doubt of its having been
struck about 1579. Mary embroidered this device and motto
on a cushion which she sent in Sept. 1569, from Wingfield to
Lesley, Bishop of Ross, and it also occurs on a silver-gilt bell
which belonged to Mary. (See Cat. of Antiquities Arch. Inst.,
Edinburgh, 1859, p. 171.) De Bie (La France Metallique,
p. 187) describes a series of medals of Mary with reverses
similar to the above and to Nos. 80-81, but in each case with
the Queen’s head on the obverse instead of the shield. One of
these medals is of the same diameter as the above counter, but
the other two are larger and, according to his scale, would measure
1*4 inches. To the medal with the above reverse he gives a
youthful bust of the Queen in profile, and adds that, as it is dated
m d l v i i . , he supposes that it was issued before her marriage with
Francis II. The other two have the bust three-quarters, wearing
widow’s cap, and older, the portrait, as he remarks, being
without any marks of majesty either in her eyes or face.
78. M a r y , Q u e e n o f S c o t s . C o u n t e r . 1579.
Shield of France and Scotland, impaled and crowned. Leg.
MARIA. d . a . SCOTOR . REGINA . FRAN . DOI. (Mary, by the grace
of God, Queen of Scots, Dowager of France.)
Rev. A hand from clouds pruning a withered branch, &c, ;
same as the preceding,
l 'i . Anderson, Thes. PI. clxv. 24.
MB. At. Advocates, At.
This is merely a variety of the preceding.
79. M a r y , Q u e e n o f S c o t s . C o u n t e r . 1579.
Shield of France and Scotland, impaled and crowned. Leg.
MARIA . D . G . FRANCOR . SCOTOR . REGINA.
Rev. A hand from clouds pruning a withered branch, &c.;
same as No. 77.
1-1.
M. d’Affry, M:
This is another variety.
80. M a r y , Q u e e n o f S c o t s . C o u n t e r . 1579.
Shield of France and Scotland, impaled and crowned, &c.
same as No. 78.
Rev. A vine, one branch withered, the other receiving water
from urn above in clouds. Leg. m e a s i c m ih i p r o s v n t . (Thus
are my own profitable to me.) Ex. 1579.
1-1. Pemb. Cat. P. 4. T. 27. De Bie, PI. 62. Anderson
Thes. PI. clxv. 25.
MB. At. Hunter, jit. Athole, At. Bibl. Paris, At.
This piece has been supposed to express the bitterness of
Mary’s feelings at the conduct of James, who strengthened
himself by diverting her revenues to his own use. It is more
probable that it was issued in the same spirit as the preceding;
expressive of the benefit she received from the dews of heaven,
which she considers as peculiarly her own.
K