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Lot 1132      

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

DOMINION OF THE SEAS, Charles I, cast and chased medal in silver, by Nicholas Briot, c.1630, 61mm, (38.0 grams), obv. Charles I bust to right with large ruff, rev. a ship probably the 'Royal Prince' sailing to right, (cf.Eimer 118, cf.MI 41, cf.MH 25 [26 same obverse and reverse dies but before spelling correction, see below], cf.Fearon 73.3). Formed from two halves united by a rim, minor edge knocks and a heavy scratch on reverse just above the sea, otherwise with attractive tone, extremely fine and very rare.

Ex. Lloyd Bennett, 1988. This example is slightly larger in diameter (3-4mm) than the published pieces for the reverse legend type, and appears to be of finer work than the illustrated examples in sale catalogues and texts consulted. The reverse die is that used as the basis for MI 41 and MH 26 (both with the same obverse die as this example), and illustrated by Fearon as 118 (c.1635), but without the spelling correction of QVI to QVAE as used in the illustration on the reverse of MH 26 and Eimer 82.3. In Baldwin's sale 1 (1994) (lot 8) there is illustrated an example of the earlier reverse die, cruder and not as fine as this example, further (lot 11) illustrates the same die but with the corrected spelling. This example is an intermediate issue between the two basic types and has not previously been recorded and is undoubtably a very rare variant. Milford Haven (p.27) in discussing his example 26 claims that it 'was most likely executed to replace the preceding one on account of the grammatical error in the inscription on the reverse.' However the evidence of this medal shows that a new reverse die was prepared and issued but was soon replaced with a correction to the reverse legend of QVI to QVAE. The issue was made to assert the claims of England to the dominion of the sea, as maintained by Selden, and in accordance with Charles's instructions to Sir William Boswell, his minister at the Hague: 'We hold it a principle not to be denied that the King of Great Britain is a Monarch at sea and land to the full extent of his dominions. His Majesty finds it necessary for his own defence and safety to re-assume and keep his ancient and undoubted right in the dominion of these seas.'