Description

Charles II. 1660-1685. Gilded Silver Medal 1662, 30.65 g. Marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza. By G. Bower. Busts face to face, draped. CAROLVS . II . ET . CATHARINA . D . G . MAG . BRIT . FRAN . ET . HIB . REX . ET . REGINA. Rv. Fame stands blowing her trumpet and holding olive branch. QUANTVM . SAT . ERIT . HIS . DICERE . DIGNUM . ANNO 1662. Plain edge. 53.4 mm. Eimer 223. MI i 480/90. Gutes sehr schön / Good Very Fine.

Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, London, July 1997, lot 417.
Purchased from Sotheby, March 1989, lot 87.
Purchased from Glendining, November 1981, lot 495.

Catherine of Braganza (25 November 1638 - 31 December 1705) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland during her marriage to King Charles II, which lasted from 21 May 1662 until his death on 6 February 1685. She was the daughter of John IV of Portugal, who became the first king from the House of Braganza in 1640, after overthrowing the 60-year rule of the Spanish Habsburgs over Portugal. Catherine served as the regent of Portugal during the absence of her brother Peter II in 1701, and again in 1704-1705, after her return to her homeland as a widow.
Her dowry included Tangier, Bombay, full trading privileges for England in the Indies and a very large sum of money for the impoverished Charles II.