Description

Charles II. 1660-1685. Silver Medal 1678, 27.44 g. Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey. Unsigned, by G. Bower. Bust draped, being strangled with his own cravat by two hands. MORIENDO . RESTITVIT . REM . E . GODFREY. Rv. Heads of Pope and Devil joined to form one face. ECCLESIA . PERVERSA . TENET . FACIEM . DIABOLI. Edge: CERVICE . FRACTA . FIDEM . SVSTVLIT . ATLAS . XNS . 1678. 37.7 mm. Eimer 259. MI i 578/250. Gutes sehr schön / Good Very Fine.

From the auction Spink USA 9800, New York, December 2001, lot 38.

Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey (23 December 1621 - 12 October 1678) was an English magistrate whose mysterious death caused anti-Catholic uproar in England. Contemporary documents also spell the name Edmundbury Godfrey.

The design of the reverse is copied from medals which were very common at the time of the Reformation and of which the object was the same, to satirize and ridicule the followers of the Pope. The Popish Plot and the death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey contributed to excite determined hostility to the Papal power and influence.