Holograph draft memorandum suggesting alternative designs and mottoes for the Coronation medal

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/3/297, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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- Revision History
  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 19 March 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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<297r>

Pallas directing a javelin at Briareus with this motto, Vicem geit ill Tonatis, She succeeds the Thunderer. Thunder signifies warr ( Sam 2. 10 & 7. 10) & the Thunderer is here the late King William who in his coronation medal was represented by Iupiter with a thunderbolt in his hand, & in respect of the warrs he was ingaged in during the whole course of his life may be fitly called a Thunderer that is a Warrior. The Giant with many heads & hands signifies not a single person but a body politic & may represent any kingdom principality nation people or body of men with whom her Majesty hath or may have warr. The device alludes to the ancient warr of the Golds & Giants. For the Egyptians commemorating the oldest of their warrs represented their Ancestors in those warrs by Gods & their enemies by Giants invading heaven, & the Giants they painted with many heads & hands to signify that they were not single persons but bodies politic. Iupiter they represented thundering against the Giants & when he was weary Pallas came in & carried on the warr according to that Motto, Vicem geit illa Tonantis.

A Pallas armed with this Motto Virtute et Consilio. The answer denotes the present warlike preparations & the Motto alludes to the valour & wisdom of Pallas & signifies the great power & wise counsels of her Majesty.

Virgils metallic Tree with a branch & this motto Non deficit alter. The Tree is an embleme of a kingdome (Ezek 17 & 31) & the principal branch is the King or Queen (Ezek 19. 11, 12, 14) & the springing out of a new golden branch as often as the old one is cropt off is a type of a lasting Monarchy.