Antique damascened copper medal of King Richard I of England. This rare bronzed copper relief medal was struck by Jean Dassiers in 1731. The obverse side illustrates a relief bust of Richard I, in armor, mantle and helmet, facing three-quarters right. The legend title reads RICHARDUS . I . D .G . ANG . HIB . ET . CYPRI . REX (Richard I, by the grace of God, king of England, Ireland and Cyprus) with JD for Jean Dassier.

The reverse of the medal depicts a monument with the crowns of England and Cyprus on the corners. On either side in bas-relief a lion tramples upon a stag and menacing another animal, which alludes to Richards name of Lion Heart. Above is a figure of Fame resting on clouds, holding a palm branch and trumpet, symbolical of the victories and military career of the king.

Exergue: NAT . 1157 . COR. 1189. MORT. 1199 (Born 1157, crowned 1189, died 1199)

A great addition to your exonumia medallion or British Royal collection.

Jean Dassier, of Geneva, 1676-1763, was one of the most enterprising and prolific medaliists of the eighteenth century. He published his series of the medals of the Kings and Queens of England in 1731, dedicating it to George II. The medals were available individually and as complete sets. They were struck in bronzed-copper, damascened copper (the relief gilded in contrast to bronzed fields) and silver. Individual damascened and silver examples are rare, complete sets are of great rarity.

The dies for the medals were eventually purchased by Sir Edward Thomason of Birmingham. He reissued the medals circa 1820. New obverse dies were also modelled after the originals and used to strike sets in whitemetal with new reverses that carried an inscription describing notable events of the reign of the individual depicted on the obverse.

MEASUREMENTS

Medallion measures 1.5" diameter and weighs 1.4oz.

CONDITION

In good condition considering age and use, there are some small knicks to the metal and some oxidation has occurred along the writing- please see all pictures as they form part of the description.

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