Oliver Cromwell
after Thomas Simon (1618-1665)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1658
Materials
Silver
Measurements
47 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Netherlands
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773261
Summary
Silver, medal commemorating Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), after Thomas Simon (c. 1623-1655), Netherlands, 1658. A struck silver medal made in the Netherlands, commemorating the death of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Cromwell depicted on obverse wearing armour facing left, a laurel tied with ribbon in his hair. The Latin legend translates as: ‘Oliver Cromwell, by the Grace of God and for the Public Good Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.’ Reverse shows a young olive tree in a landscape, with a shepherd and his flock. Legend translates as ‘They [the people] shall not lack an olive-tree. 3 Sep. 1658’.
Full description
A commemorative medal issued after Oliver Cromwell’s death on 3 September 1658. The propagandistic reverse refers to hopes that Cromwell’s son Richard (1626-1712) would succeed his father. Although Richard did become the second Lord Protector, he was an ineffectual figure compared to his father, and resigned after nine months. The medal is a copy of a rare medal by Thomas Simon which was made with a suspension ring so that it could be worn by supporters of the Lord Protector and his son (Medallic Illustrations, I, pp. 433-34, no. 82). Extra struck versions were made in the Netherlands, to supply the demand from collectors unable to obtain an example of Simon’s original. Jeremy Warren 2019
Provenance
Given to the National Trust in 1993 by George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (1910-1998).
Marks and inscriptions
Obverse: OLIVAR.D.G.RP.ANG.SCO.HIBERNIAE.PROTECTOR Reverse: NON.DEFITIENT.OLIVA.SEP.3.1658
Makers and roles
after Thomas Simon (1618-1665), medallist
References
Hawkins, E. (ed.) Franks, A.W. and Grueber, H.A: Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the death of George II, 2 vols,. London, 1885, vol. I, p. 435, no. 85. Mitchiner 1988-2007: Michael Mitchiner, Jetons, Medalets and Tokens, 4 vols., London 1988-2007, p. 1681, no. 78.4 (4880). Eimer 2010: Christopher Eimer, British Commemorative Medals and their Values, London 2010, p. 53, no. 200 Platt 2013: Jerome J. Platt and Arleen Kay Platt, The English Civil Wars: Medals, Historical Commentary & Personalities, 2 vols., London 2013, vol. II, pp. 25-26.