Lot 2697

Description

George III, (1760-1820) Silver medal (54mm diam) commemorating the death of Charles James Fox. Obverse: Draped bust of Fox (by medallist and coinage designer Webb) facing right, with legend marking the date of his death (September 13th 1806). Reverse: The winged figure of Victory holds two wreaths astride a globe with a map of England. The legend LIBERTATIS. HVMANITATISQVE. VINDEX underlines Fox's reputation as a humanitarian and defender of liberty, (BHM 604. Eimer 979). Toned, good extremely fine or better, scarce.

This rare medal is remarkably well preserved and deeply toned in shades of green and gold. Charles Fox (1749-1806) was a prominent British (Whig Party) statesman whose career in the British Parliament spanned 38 years, and an arch rival of William Pitt (the younger) who was the Tory Prime Minister for many years in the late 18th century. Fox was a brilliant orator. In 1782 he was briefly Britain's first Foreign Secretary under the Premiership of the Marquis of Rockingham. He returned to the post, for a while, in the next year and again just before his death in 1806. Fox was a diehard opponent of King George III whom he regarded as a tyrant, and instinctively he supported the revolutionaries in America when the conflict with the British forces escalated. It is said that he would frequently dress himself in the colours of George Washington's army! A famous gambler, womaniser and lover of foreign fashion, Fox was also a leading advocate of religious tolerance and individual liberty and a great anti-slavery campaigner.