Maurice, Prince of Orange 1615

[constanius]

Oval, cast in brass, unifaced, portrait medallion with legend 52mm x 42mm: MAVRITIVS.AVR.PRINC.COM.NASS.ET.MV.MAR.VE.FL.EQ.OR.PERISCELIDIS. dated 1615 under bust of Maurice, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau and Meurs, Marquess of Vere and Flushing, Knight of the Order of the Garter. The original, cast & chased, double-sided, silver medal was by Adriaen Symonsz. Rotter Mont Hague Goldsmith(later Dean of The Goldsmiths) also known as Symon Adriaensz. These unifaced examples are also believed cast by Adriaen Symonsz(see further in this post for why he made them) contemporary to the original.

 

If you go to the linked sites you will see 2 other examples, mine just happens to be the best .

 

Now to the American connection; Jamestowne Fort Excavations. Priceless artifacts from summer dig(2008) now on display in Historic Jamestowne's Archearium. http://www.historicjamestowne.org/news/2008_artifacts.php

"A medallion recovered from the fort may have ties to Virginia's three-time governor George Yeardley, who presided over the first General Assembly. The brass object commemorates the induction of Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, into the English order of Knights of the Garter in 1613. Yeardley served under Prince Maurice as a young man while fighting the Spanish in the Netherlands. In 1609 he sailed for Virginia on the ill-fated Sea Venture that wrecked on the reefs of Bermuda, spending ten months there before finally reaching Jamestown. A similar medallion was found at the site of Yeardley's home at Flowerdew Hundred Plantation near Hopewell, Virginia"

 

1618 was an eventful year for George and Temperance Flowerdew(she was one of the survivors of the "Starving Time" 1609). They both sailed back to England for a visit & it was there, on the 18 October, they were married in Norfolk where her parents Anthony Flowerdew of Hethersett, Norfolk, and his wife Martha Stanley of Scottow, Norfolk still resided. Whilst still in England, King James, at Newmarket, knighted & appointed George governor of Jamestown and Virginia. Apparently it was then that Yeardley was given permission by the King to install government by the people...not the nobility...The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America, its first meeting was held in Jamestown, Virginia, on July 30, 1619.

 

It is believed that these unifaced examples were also cast by Symonsz, they appear to have been made in the midst of the struggle between two religious factions: the remonstrants and the contra-remonstrants. The latter hailed Maurice as their leader in an increasingly bitter conflict against the remonstrant Van Oldenbarnevelt. A relatively large number of these medallions have survived: a clear indication of its popularity. Many contra-remonstrants wore the medallion on a chain as a visible declaration of their loyalty to Maurice and his religious principles.

Another example here,

http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/280078, my example came from Norfolk, England. One other that I know of came from an Indian grave in Rhode Island.

 

J. van Oldenbarnevelt (1547-1619)

In 1572 the jurist Johan van Oldenbarnevelt joined the revolt against Spain. He rose to considerable political influence, and was eventually appointed advocate of the most powerful of the Dutch provinces, Holland, in 1586 with the title grand pensionary. In the internal political conflicts that followed the truce of 1609 between Spain and the Republic, Oldenbarnevelt was one of the leading figures. Crucial problems centred on the relation between church and state, and the vital question of the independence of the provinces. Oldenbarnevelt and the province of Holland wished to maximise their freedom of action. Prince Maurice took the opposite view. In 1618 Maurice had his opponents arrested. Oldenbarnevelt was sentenced to death and on 13 May 1619 the old man was beheaded.

[Art]

Great piece and interesting story.

[bill]

[ccg]

Neat!

[constanius]

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery;

 

This is (MI 401/31). Admiral Robert Blake, Restitutional Medal.

but you need to read 30 to get the full picture.

30. Admiral Blake. 1653.

Bust, three-quarters, r., in stiff ruff, armour, and scarf across the breast. Leg. Robt. Blake, Born 1598 Died 1657. He fought at once with Ships & Castles, He dared the Fury of all the Elements, he left an Example to Posterity which is incredible, to be imitated.

Rev. Naval engagement, with broad border of trophies. Same as No. 26.

2-3 by 2-15.

MB. AR. Unique.

The obverse of this piece is engraved upon a thin plate of silver, and, with an original impression of the die of the reverse of the "Naval Reward" medal (No. 26), also upon thin silver, is formed into a medal by being united by a thin silver rim. The portrait is not, as it professes to be, of Blake, but is a coarse copy of one of Maurice, Prince of Orange. (Compare Van Loon, II. p. 87.)

 

31. Admiral Blake. 1653.

Bust, three-quarters, r., in stiff ruff, figured armour, and scarf across the breast.

Rev. Naval action; similar to No. 26, but on the stern of the sinking ship, A. Simon. Laurel border on both sides. 1-95 by 1-75.MB. M. Very rare.

This is altogether a fabrication, being a cast medal, afterwards chased, probably by Stuart, about the middle of the last century(18th). It has a ring for suspension. The obverse is copied from the same portrait as the preceding. The reverse is copied from the " Naval Reward " medals just described.

[Roger]

Great stuff!