Stock No. 2959	Silver Jacobite medal. James (III), Elder Pretender
Interesting silver Jacobite medal. James (III), Elder Pretender. Restoration of Kingdom, by Norbert Roettier, 1708. Obverse: Bust of Prince James looking right, laureate, hair long, in armour and with mantle tied in a knot on the shoulder. Legend: "CVIVS . EST". (Whose (image) is this?). Below, a monogram, NR for Norbert Roettier. Reverse: Map of Great Britain and Ireland marked BRIT . L, SCOT . E and HIB . D. (Britain, London; Scotland, Edinburgh; Ireland, Dublin.) The sea around is dotted with ships. Legend: "REDDITE" (Render). See "Medallic Illustrations", vol. II, page 312, no. 133. Maker :- Norbert Roettier

Condition :-Almost Extremely Fine, nicely toned
Circa :- 1708
Size :- 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) diameter
"M.I" rates this medal as "Not common", by now it is even less common. This medal was struck for distribution among the friends and supporters of the exiled family in 1708, at a time when Harley's intrigues had stirred up dissensions in the Cabinet and discontent had been aroused in Scotland by the unpopularity of the Union. France was hoping to take advantage of this unrest and was contemplating an invasion. The meaning behind the medal's legends were: "Whose image is this? The King's. Render then to the King these Islands which belong to him". In 1711, the Duchess of Gordon presented one of these medals to the faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh. Its receipt was gratefully acknowledged in a speech by Dundas of Arniston who was deputed for the purpose. However, the act was subsequently disavowed by the Advocates and an apology was accepted. Nevertheless, on the remonstrance of the Court of Hanover, Sir David Dalrymple was dismissed from the office of Lord Advocate for not prosecuting more vigorously the enquiry he was commanded to make into this display of pro Jacobite sentiment. In 1714, several of these medals were distributed among Jacobites who had assembled at Lochmaben under the pretence of attending the races.

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