Description

George I. 1714-1727. Silver Medal 1727, 61.16 g. Death of Sir Isaac Newton. By J. Croker. Bust, draped. ISAACVS . NEWTONVS. Rv. Science, seated against a table, displays a diagram of the planetary system. FELIX . COGNOSCERE . CAVSAS. In exergue: M . DCC . XXVI. Plain edge. 51.7 mm. Eimer 504. MI ii 469/83. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned.

Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, London, November 2004.

Sir Isaac Newton (25 December 1642 - 20 March 1727) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. Newton was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment that followed. He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705 and spent the last three decades of his life in London, serving as Warden (1696 - 1699) and Master (1699 - 1727) of the Royal Mint, in which he increased the accuracy and security of British coinage, as well as president of the Royal Society (1703 - 1727).

The legend on the reverse alludes to Newton's sagacity in penetrating the primary causes which governed the motion of the planets, and the device to his elucidation of the solar system.