James II and Mary of Modena
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1685
Materials
Silver
Measurements
272 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773272
Summary
Silver, James II/VII (1633-1701, reigned 1685-88) and Mary of Modena (1658-1718), struck London, United Kingdom, 1685. A silver medal by an unknown medallist depicting King James II/VII and his wife Mary of Modena (Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d’Este). The obverse has a bust portrait in profile of James facing right, his hair short and with a laurel wreath, the bust uncovered. Latin legend reads ‘James II, by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland.’ On the reverse, bust portrait in profile of Mary, facing right, hair curled in front, ringlet curled up from the ear, knot of hair behind, lovelocks; a gown and mantle round the bust. Legend reads ‘Mary by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland.’ The medal was issued shortly after their Coronation, as a complimentary medal to the new king and queen.
Full description
James II of England and VII of Scotland was the last Catholic monarch to rule England and Scotland. The second surviving son of King Charles I and his wife Henrietta Maria, James succeeded to the throne in February 1685, on the death of his elder brother Charles II. James was appointed Duke of York on his birth, retaining that title until his succession as king. In 1673 he had married his second wife, Mary of Modena (Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este), the daughter of Alfonso IV d'Este, duke of Modena and Reggio and his wife Laura. The couple were formally crowned at a splendid ceremony in Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1685 (see NT 773271). This medal, which is the work of an anonymous maker but clearly dependent on medallic images of the couple by John Roettiers, seems to have been issued shortly after the Coronation, during the short-lived period of goodwill in the country towards the new king and queen. As both were Catholics, this was bound to be short-lived, discontent steadily growing in London and beyond. The birth of their son James Francis Edward Stuart in 1688, meaning that a Catholic would now be the heir to the throne, caused matters to reach a head, emboldening William of Orange to launch his successful invasion, which would result in the flight of James and Mary to exile in France. 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, legend: .IACOBVS. II Ɑ.G. MAG. BRI. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX. Reverse, legend: .MARIA. D.G. MAG. BRI. FRAN. ET. HIB. REGI.
References
Hawkins, Franks and Grueber 1885: Edward Hawkins, Augustus W. Franks and Herbert A. Grueber (eds.), Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the death of George II, 2 vols., London 1885, vol. I, p. 608, no. 13.