Description

James II. 1685-1688. Gilded Silver Medal 1688, 17.87 g. Birth of Prince James. Unsigned. Busts, conjoined, of James II, laureate and draped, and the Queen, draped. IACOBVS . II . M . BRIT . REX . MARIA . M . BRIT . REG. Rv. Map identifying ANGLIA, HIBERNIA and SCOTIA; radiate sun rising. ILLAS FVGAT . RECREAT ISTAS. In exergue: OB NATVM WALLIÆ PRINCIPEM GAB . SILVIVS EQ . AVR AD SER DANIÆ ET NORW . REG . ABL EXT CCMDCLXXXVIII. Plain edge. 34.9 mm. Eimer 293. MI i 629/49. van Loon III, 342,2. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1688-11. Sehr schön / Very Fine. Kleiner Stempelriss / Small die crack.

James Francis Edward Stuart (10 June 1688 - 1 January 1766) was the House of Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland from 1701 until his death in 1766. The only son of James II of England and his second wife, Mary of Modena, he was Prince of Wales and heir until his Catholic father was deposed and exiled in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. His Protestant half-sister Mary II and her husband William III became co-monarchs. As a Catholic, he was subsequently excluded from the succession by the Act of Settlement 1701.

His birth was unexpected, coming five years after his mother's tenth and last pregnancy, none of which produced a child that survived more than a few days. The birth reignited controversies of religion, as the new son would be raised Catholic.

This medal was issued in Denmark, for distribution at a celebration given by Sir Gabriel Wood, Ambassador Extraordinary to the most Serene King of Denmark and Norway, in commemoration of the birth of the young Prince, who was expected to dissipate the storms, which threatened Great Britain by the Protestant ascendancy.