Items
Details
Title
[Armada medal] [realia].
Created/published
[Netherlands], 1588.
Description
1 coin : silver ; 5 cm
Associated name
Wilson, W. W. C., former owner.
Summary
On the obverse, the pope, kings, bishops and others are shown seated in council, with bandaged eyes, the floor covered with spikes. This satirizes the unsuccessful confederation of the pope, the emperor, Philip II, the Duke of Guise and other princes against Elizabeth. The reverse shows the Spanish fleet driven against rocks and ascribes its destruction to the direct intervention of heaven.
Note
Information transcribed from RodrÃguez-Salgado.
Inscription (obverse): DVRVM EST CONTRA STIMVLOS CALCITARE ("It is hard to kick against the spikes," Acts 9:5); O COECAS HOMINVM MENTES O PECTORA COECA ("Oh, the blind minds, the blind hearts of men," an adaptation of Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.14: "o miseras hominum mentes, o pectora caeca").
Inscription (reverse): TV DEVS MAGNVS ET MAGNA FACIS TV SOLVS DEVS ("Thou, God, are great and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone," Psalms 86:10); VENI VIDE VIVE 1588 ("come, see, live, 1588").
Inscription (obverse): DVRVM EST CONTRA STIMVLOS CALCITARE ("It is hard to kick against the spikes," Acts 9:5); O COECAS HOMINVM MENTES O PECTORA COECA ("Oh, the blind minds, the blind hearts of men," an adaptation of Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.14: "o miseras hominum mentes, o pectora caeca").
Inscription (reverse): TV DEVS MAGNVS ET MAGNA FACIS TV SOLVS DEVS ("Thou, God, are great and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone," Psalms 86:10); VENI VIDE VIVE 1588 ("come, see, live, 1588").
Source of acquisition
Purchased through Gabriel Wells. No. 1056 in the Wilson Collection sale, Anderson Galleries, 1925.
Exhibited
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2008. History in the Making.
Cited/described in
RodrÃguez-Salgado, M. J. Armada, 16.3
Place of creation/publication
Netherlands.
Item Details
Call number
ART Inv. 1001 (realia) (B2b)