Stock No. 7161	Rare loyalty badge. Charles I and Henrietta Maria
Rare, beautifully cast and chased silver loyalty badge in high relief of Charles I and Henrietta Maria with plain border and suspension loop. Believed to have been executed by Thomas Rawlins. Circa 1648. Obverse: Bust of Charles I, left, laureate, hair long, in armour with lion's head on shoulder, medal suspended on a chain and mantle festooned upon the breast. Reverse: Bust of Henrietta Maria, left, hair flat at the top, curly at the sides, drawn through a small coronet behind and tied into a bow. Pearl necklace and pendant, figured bodice with brooch in front, bust terminated in drapery. No legend. Maker :- Thomas Rawlins

Condition :-Extremely Fine with just a very small amount of flattening on the very high points of hair and clothing
Circa :- 1648
Size :- 1.25 inches (31.75 mm) long inclusive of suspension loop x 0.9 inches (22.86 mm) wide
Both portraits are executed with great sensitivity. The chasing is restricted to what is necessary to remove the roughness of the cast surface. The reverse is identical to the reverse on a badge signed by Thomas Rawlins (MI vol I, p254/215). The badge described above is identical to the one described in "Medallic Illustrations", vol. I, p.355/218 except that it has a plain border and only one suspension loop at the top. This medal is part of a family of badges which were intended to be worn about the person of friends and supporters of the king. They are of various sizes and workmanship and were executed at various times. Some were worn as ornamental or honourable decorations conferred for services performed during King Charles's reign, others were concealed as tacit memorials of the king or the royal cause the where an open avowel of support would have been troublesome or dangerous to the wearer. Therefore, it is very difficult to pinpoint the exact date of the execution of this medal except that Thomas Rawlins was a royalist who was very closely attached to Charles I and since this medal is attributed to him, it is unlikely that it would have been struck during the Cromwellian era.

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