POST MEDIEVAL MEDAL

1642

Silver medal of Charles 1st. The obverse of this medal carries a left-facing portrait of Charles I, with a decorative surround that is pierced above and below for attachment to clothing. This type is well-known from such examples as Medallic Illustrations, I, p. 357, 223 (reverse of Henrietta Maria three-quarter facing); p. 357, 224 (reverse of Henrietta Maria facing left); pp. 361-2, 235-7 (reverses of royal arms); p. 364, 244 (reverse of three crowns). A very similar obverse appears on Medallic Illustrations, I, p. 348, 203. These medals date to the Civil War period.The reverse of the medal carries an engraved shield bearing a coat of arms with a rudimentary engraved wreath to each side and the engraved letters BC above. Around this is the decorative surround that appears on the medals referred to above.This medal of Charles was evidently personalised by the addition of the engraving on the reverse, which would have been added at the request of a royalist supporter. The coat of arms and the letters BC suggest that that individual may have been called Calvert, as various families of that name have used arms like those shown, usually in gold and black.