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Medals & Decorations

The Ashmolean Museum has a very good collection of British historical medals, dating from the Tudor period to the present day, with particularly high concentrations for the 18th and 19th centuries. Its continental and world holdings are very diverse, with some particularly significant medals of the Italian Renaissance; Germany and the Low Countries in the Renaissance and Baroque age; the papacy; etc. The decorations are mostly British and date from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century.

British commemorative medal - Churchill and the 25th Anniversary of Peace in Europe Commemorative Medal (HCR98958)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, Pinches, Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1970

Obverse

Cornell, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, left, in military uniform and hat, as a Colonel of the Royal Sussex Regiment; signature of the artist

Reverse

WE SHALL FIGHT ON / THE BEACHES... / WE SHALL FIGHT IN / THE FIELDS AND IN / THE STREETS. / WE SHALL FIGHT IN / THE HILLS: / WE SHALL NEVER / SURRENDER., inscribed tablet, facing lion head above, British flags on both sides; quotation from his address to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940 on the evacuation at Dunkirk

British commemorative medal - Churchill and the 25th Anniversary of Peace in Europe Commemorative Medal (HCR98997)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, Pinches, Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1970

Obverse

Cornell, quarter-length figure of Churchill, three-quarters to right with right hand raised in "V for Victory" sign, and smoking cigar; signature of the artist

Reverse

NEVER IN / THE FIELD OF / HUMAN CONFLICT / WAS SO MUCH / OWED BY / SO MANY / TO SO FEW, inscribed tablet, facing lion head above, British flags on both sides; quotation from his address on the war situation to the House of Commons, August 20, 1940

British commemorative medal - Churchill and the 25th Anniversary of Peace in Europe Commemorative Medal (HCR98998)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, Pinches, Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1970

Obverse

Cornell, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, left, in military uniform and hat, as a Colonel of the Royal Sussex Regiment; signature of the artist

Reverse

British commemorative medal - Churchill and the 25th Anniversary of Peace in Europe Commemorative Medal (HCR98999)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, Pinches, Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1970

Obverse

Cornell, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, three-quarters left, in a pensive mood; signature of the artist

Reverse

IF THE / BRITISH EMPIRE / AND ITS / COMMONWEALTH / LAST FOR A / THOUSAND YEARS, / MEN WILL STILL SAY: / "THIS WAS THEIR / FINEST HOUR.", inscribed tablet, facing lion head above, British flags on both sides; quotation from his BBC "This Was Their Finest Hour" broadcast on June 18, 1940

British commemorative medal - Churchill and the 25th Anniversary of Peace in Europe Commemorative Medal (HCR99000)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, Pinches, Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1970

Obverse

Cornell, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, three-quarters left, in front of microphone; signature of the artist

Reverse

AT THIS TIME / I FEEL ENTITLED / TO CLAIM THE / AID OF ALL AND / I SAY "COME THEN, / LET US GO / FORWARD TOGETHER / WITH OUR / UNITED STRENGTH.", inscribed tablet, facing lion head above, British flags on both sides; quotation from his first address as Prime Minister to the House of Commons, May 13, 1940

American medal (HCR95804)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Gentlemen of Verona / NATHAN, scene from "Gentlemen of Verona"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / ’Tis pity / love should be / so contrary… / THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA / ACT IV, SCENE IV, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95805)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Titus Andronicus / NATHAN, scene from "Titus Andronicus"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / …shall we / cut away our / hands, like / thine? / TITUS ANDRONICUS / ACT III, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95806)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Love's Labours Lost / NATHAN, scene from "Love's Labours Lost"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / These / are barren / tasks… / LOVE'S LABOURS LOST / ACT I, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95807)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Henry VI·I / NATHAN, scene from "Henry VI, Part I"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / This brawl / today…shall send… / a thousand souls / to death… / KING HENRY VI, PART I / ACT II, SCENE IV, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95808)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Antony and Cleopatra / NATHAN, scene from "Antony and Cleopatra"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / O come, / come…die / where thou / hast lived… / ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA / ACT IV, SCENE XV, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95908)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

A Midsummer Night's Dream / NATHAN, scene from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / …reason and / love keep little / company together / nowadays. / A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM / ACT III, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95909)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Twelfth Night / NATHAN, scene from "Twelfth Night"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / In delay / there lies / no plenty. / TWELFTH NIGHT / ACT II, SCENE III, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95910)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Taming of the Shrew / NATHAN, scene from "The Taming of the Shrew"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / …kiss me, Kate, / we will be married / o’ Sunday. / TAMING OF THE SHREW / ACT II, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95911)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Winter's Tale / NATHAN, scene from "The Winter's Tale"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / Too hot, too hot! / To mingle / friendship far / is mingling bloods. / THE WINTER'S TALE / ACT I, SCENE II, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95912)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

As You Like It / NATHAN, scene from "As You Like It"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / Come, woo me, / woo me; for now / I am in a / holiday humour… / AS YOU LIKE IT / ACT IV, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95913)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Tempest / NATHAN, scene from "The Tempest"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / I must obey: / his art is of / such power. / THE TEMPEST / ACT I, SCENE II, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95914)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Merry Wives of Windsor / NATHAN, scene from "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / Out of my door, / you witch… / I'll conjure you, / I'll fortune-tell you. / THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR / ACT IV, SCENE II, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95915)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Comedy of Errors / NATHAN, scene from "The Comedy of Errors"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / What art thou / that keepest me out / from the house / I owe? / THE COMEDY OF ERRORS / ACT III, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95916)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

The Merchant of Venice / NATHAN, scene from "The Merchant of Venice"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / Tarry a little… / This bond doth give / thee here no jot / of blood… / TEH MERCHANT OF VENICE / ACT IV, SCENE I, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95917)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Love's Labours Lost / NATHAN, scene from "Love's Labours Lost"

Reverse