Search coins in this collection

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.

American medal (HCR95938)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

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

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / How long is't / ago, Jack, since / thou sawest thine / own knee? / KING HENRY IV, 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 (HCR95939)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Henry IV·II / NATHAN, scene from "Henry IV, Part II"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / How ill white / hairs become a / fool and jester! / KING HENRY IV, PART II / ACT V, SCENE V, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95940)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Henry V / NATHAN, scene from "Henry V"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / We few, / we happy few, / we band / of brothers. / HENRY V / ACT IV, 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 (HCR95941)

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 (HCR95942)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

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

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / King did I / call thee? no, / thou art not king; / Not fit to govern… / HENRY VI, PART II / ACT V, 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 (HCR95943)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

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

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / Off with / the crown; and, / with the crown / his head… / HENRY VI, PART III / ACT I, 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 (HCR95944)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Richard III / NATHAN, scene from "Richard III"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / A horse! / a horse! / my kingdom / for a horse! / RICHARD III / ACT V, 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 (HCR95945)

Period

Modern

Person

Philip Nathan

Mint

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

Dating

1971-1974

Obverse

Henry VIII / NATHAN, scene from "Henry VIII"

Reverse

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY * RSC * / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON · LONDON · / …when I am / in heaven I shall / desire to see what / this child does, / HENRY VIII / ACT V, SCENE V, crest of the Royal Shakespeare Company, surrounded by a wreath of flowers; inscription in centre; cipher at bottom (signifying the artist?)

American medal (HCR95608)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, William Shakespeare

Dating

1972

Obverse

SHAKESPEARE AND FRANKLIN / CORNELL / LONDON · STRATFORD-ON-AVON / BOURNEMOUTH / MAY 29ᵀᴴ JUNE 6ᵀᴴ / 1972, double busts of William Shakespeare and Benjamin Franklin; inscription in exergue with dates of visit

Reverse

THE FRANKLIN MINT COLLECTORS SOCIETY / WELCOME / TO BRITAIN, landscape of the Houses of Parliament, the Queen Elizabeth Tower ('Big Ben'), and Westminster Bridge, with the Thames in the foreground

American medal (HCR95953)

Period

Modern

Person

David Cornell, William Shakespeare

Dating

1972

Obverse

Reverse

THE FRANKLIN MINT COLLECTORS SOCIETY / WELCOME / TO BRITAIN, landscape of the Houses of Parliament, the Queen Elizabeth Tower ('Big Ben'), and Westminster Bridge, with the Thames in the foreground

American commemorative art bar (HCR98693)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

The Washington Mint, OH (Modern) (stated mint)

Dating

1972

Obverse

SIR / WINSTON / CHURCHILL / 1874 · 1972, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, left

Reverse

999· FINE SILVER / THE WASHINGTON MINT, bust of George Washington, right, behind whom is the Washington Monument; logo

American commemorative art bar (HCR98694)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill

Mint

Silver Creations, Ltd. (Modern) (stated mint)

Dating

1972

Obverse

SIR / WINSTON / CHURCHILL / 1874 1965, bust of Sir Winston Churchill, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98671)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, view of Sir Winston Churchill in school uniform in front of Harrow School; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Harrow School / Winston rejected / those subjects for which / he could see no practical / use and applied himself / to mastering the / English language, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98672)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

WALKER / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, wearing top hat, among policemen, in street scene; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Siege / of Sidney Street. / On 3rd January 1911 / Churchill as Home / Secretary intervenes when / 'a gang of anarchists' / holds siege in a house / in Whitechapel, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98675)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

ROYAL / CHURC(H)ILL / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill on stand, addressing crowds; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / M.P. for Oldham. / Churchill elected to / Parliament in the 'Khaki' / Election of 1900-by a / slender majority / of 230 votes, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98793)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Randolph Churchill, Michael Rizzello, Lady Randolph Churchill

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, view of Lord and Lady Randolph holding a young Sir Winston Churchill as babe in arms in front of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 30th November 1874 / Born at Blenheim Palace / the first son of / Lord Randolph Churchill / and Jennie Jerome, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98794)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, view of Sir Winston Churchill in school uniform in front of Harrow School; artist's signature

Reverse

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98795)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill on horseback with pith helmet and revolver, among enemy fighters; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Battle of / Omdurman. The famous / Charge of the 21st Lancers. / Churchill. . . mounted on an / Arab polo-pony in this / historic cavalry charge / of the British Army, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98796)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

£25 / ( .... ) / Churchill (...) / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, running among train tracks; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Boer War. / War Correspondent / Churchill was captured / by the Boers but escaped / with a price of £25 on / his head ' . . . dead / or alive. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98797)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

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

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

ROYAL / CHURC(H)ILL / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill on stand, addressing crowds; artist's signature

Reverse