Memorandum by Newton: 'The Reverse of the Coronation Medal explain'd'

Author: Unknown

Source: MINT 19/3/289, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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<289r>

The Reverse of the Coronation Medal explain'd

The Motto.

Vicem gerit Illa Tonantis She is in the place of the Thunderer, or She is God's Vicegerent, & King Williams Successour.

This Motto relates to the last Coronation Medal, in which the King was represented by a Jupiter with a thunderbolt in his hand : for Thunder signifys War, & that King was a Warriour all his life=time.

The Device

Pallas, the Goddess of Wisdom, destroying a Giant with thunder

And it alluded to an Ancient War between the Ancestours of the Egyptians represented by Gods (Jupiter, Pallas et cæt.^a) & their Enemys represented by Gyants. The Gyants, to denote that they were not single persons but great bodys of Men, were painted with many heads & hands : And to express their (a) hostile force & terrour they had Skaley & Snakey leggs, as Pallas had a Snakey shield. When Jupiter was weary, Pallas came-in, & carryd-on the War.

The Whole signifys that her Majesty continues the Scene of the last Reign.

Annotations.

(a) Serpents sometimes signifyd Spirits good or bad, as where the Egyptians putt Serpents for Agathodæmons or good Spirtis; & the Serpent Cneph for God Allmighty: and Wee putt the Old Serpent for the Devil. Sometimes they signifyd Men, as in Matt. 10. Be Ye wise as Serpetns. & 23 Chap. Ye Generation of Vipers. They have also other significations. In the shield of Pallas they signify only hostile force & astonishing terrour ; & the like signification they may have on the Gyants leggs, & need not a reflecting Signification, unless any man be minded to make a reflection. The Gyant in the Device may signify any Enemy with which Her Majesty hath or may have War

(b) Mille manus illis dedit, & pro cruribus Angues. Ovid. Fast. l. S. Capita plurima Typhoni Nata sunt, & manus & Alæ, et ex femoribus maxima serpentum Volumina Nicander apud Anton. Liberal. cap. 27. Anguineos pedes habuisse produntur hi Gigantes in cruribus maximas Viperarum spiras Typho Continebat, quarum Volumina ad verticem ipsum us pertendebantur ; eæ Viperæ ingentem sibilum excitabant - Typho - autem spirarum volumine circumplexum Iovem detinuit. Apollodor Cap. 6. Terra anguineis pedibus Gigantes peperit. Isacius.