Stock No. 3695	William and Mary silver official coronation medal
Beautifully executed silver William and Mary official coronation medal with a very dramatic reverse. By John Roettier. 1689. Obverse:- conjoined busts of William and Mary looking right. He, with hair long, is laureate. Legend: GULIELMUS . ET . MARIA . REX . ET . REGINA. Reverse:- Jove thunders against Phaeton, falling from his chariot. The earth in flames. Legend: NE TOTUS ABSUMATUR. (That it may not all be consumed). Exergue: INAUGURAT . II . AP . 1689. (Crowned 11 April 1689). See Medallic Illustrations, vol. I, p. 662/25. Maker :- John Roettier

Condition :-Extremely Fine and nicely toned. The rim has curled over slightly on the right hand lower side of the reverse but this does not interfere with the design of the medal in any way
Circa :- 1689
Size :- 1.35 inches (35 mm) diameter
This is the official coronation medal struck for distribution among the spectators. Executed by John Roettier, it exceeds by far in beauty of workmanship all the other medals commemorating the coronation. Medallic Illustrations says that there were at least two pairs of dies used for the production of these medals, varying very slightly. On the reverse, James II, unable to manage the reins of government, is displaced so that the whole empire should not be destroyed. However, the supporters of James gave another interpretation to the reverse. They saw Phaeton as an emblem of William and Mary exposing themselves to ruin by assuming the reins of their father's chariot. Others suggested that the chariot was that of Tulia, who drove over the remains of her dethroned father. John Roettier was the eldest son of an Antwerp goldsmith. He came to England soon after the Restoration and was appointed one of the engravers at the Mint. He became Chief Engraver on the death of Thomas Rawlins in 1670 and held this office until 1697. With the exception of a few pieces made by the Simons, John Roettier's medallic works are the finest produced in England since the Restoration.

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