North Yorkshire Moors Collection, Part IV: Coins and Medals

XV: Dutch and French Medals, Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax, a cast silver satirical medal, late 17th century (?), unsigned, den een mens is den a siindvivel, cromwell, two heads reversible, Cromwell and the Devil, rev. d een sot is d a s gek, [f]arfox, two heads reversible, Fairfax and a Fool, Dutch legends around, 35mm, 25.12g (Platt I, p.348, type B; MI I, 389/10). About very fine, extremely rare; no silver specimens of this type recorded by Platt £200-£300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins.

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Provenance: H. Montagu Collection, Sotheby Auction, 24-9 May 1897, lot 206 (part); J.G. Murdoch Collection, Part VI, Sotheby Auction, 2-6 June 1904, lot 160 (part); R.C. and O.M.W. Warner Collection; R.E. Ockenden Collection [from O.M.W.W. 1964]; bt R.E.O.

These satirical medals reflect a Dutch commentary on the replacement of Sir Thomas Fairfax as commander-in-chief of the Parliamentary army by Oliver Cromwell, and that Cromwell ‘played Fairfax for a fool’ (Platt I, pp.349-50). The medallist is unknown, the style is after the Pope/Devil - Cardinal/Fool reformation medals and compare with the 1678 medal by George Bower on the subject of the Popish Plot