The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins

XV: Dutch and French Medals, Subservience of France and Spain, after 1680 (?), a struck silver medal, unsigned, laureate bust of Cromwell left, olivar d g r p ang sco hiberniæ protector, rev. retire toy l’honnevr appartiet av roy mon maister, in exergue, lovis le grand, Britannia seated left, Cromwell kneeling with his head in her lap, presenting his buttocks to the French and Spanish ambassadors who wait to pay him homage, 46mm, 42.75g (Platt I, p.351; MI I, 420/60; v. Loon II, 395). Collector’s number painted on edge, otherwise about extremely fine and toned, very rare £600-£800

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

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Provenance: SCMB April 1952 (M 683); R.E. Ockenden Collection; bt R.E.O.

The Dutch medallist has not been identified. The reverse refers to the negotiations of 1655, but the armoured bust is taken from the 1658 funeral medal. It is generally agreed that the figure of Britannia was not revived before c. 1672, so this medal must have been struck after that date. The reverse legend quotes the French ambassador as he pushes his Spanish counterpart aside: ‘Get back. The honour belongs to the King, my master, Louis the Great’