British commemorative medal – HCR95684

Obverse

Inscription:

IRVING PHELPS MACREADY / 1564 / 1616 / SHAKSPERE / P.

Design:

bare head of William Shakespeare with falling lace collar facing ¾ left, within branches of an oak tree on which there are three heads (of Shakespearean actors)

Reverse

Inscription:

THE AVON

Design:

landscape view of the River Avon; church in distance; inscription in exergue

Information

Person

William Shakespeare (subject) , Pinches (manufacturer)

Dating

1904-1908

Note

possibly by Pinches?, ̶p̶o̶s̶s̶i̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶1̶8̶6̶4̶?̶, signed 'P.'. Contra Brown, the style of this medal points to a 20th century date, as with the British Museum, whose silver specimen is hallmarked (to a date of 1904). Irving was not necessarily popular in 1864; he saw greater popularity towards the turn of the century. *pers. comm. with BM: their silver specimen is dated 1904, which firmly places this specimen in the first 10 years of the 20th century. Ogden offers a date of 1908.

Period

Modern

Kind

medal

Metal

bronze or copper

Reign

Measurements
Acquisition
Additional information
Ticket
References
Credit

Weight (g)

61.27

Diameter (mm)

Acquisition method

gift

Acquisition collection reference

084GG

Acquisition date

6/2019

Source

J. Eric Engstrom

Acquisition credit

Presented by J. Eric Engstrom, 2019.

Acquisition note

J. Eric Engstrom Shakespeare Medal Collection

Source of portrait

First Folio portrait by Droeshout / Janssen/Somerset portrait

Country of origin

Great Britain

Reference

BHM : 2816

Note:

p. 256; dating spurious

Reference

British Museum Collection Online : https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1915-1102-1

Note:

cf.; specimen in silver

Reference

Ogden, W. S. - 1910 - Shakspere's portraiture: painted, graven, and medallic : 58g

Note:

p. 189

Contributors to this coin record

cgallacher