Princess Clementina's escape from Innsbruck 1719, cast bronze medal by Otto Hamerani, with later gilding

Obv: bust of Clementina left wearing fine clothes and jewellery, CLEMENTINA M BRITAN FR ET HIB REGINA around (Clementina Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland)

Rev: Princess Clementina in a chariot drawn by two horses, in the distance is Rome and a rising sun, FORTVNAM CAVSAMQAE SEQUOR around (I follow his fortune and his cause), in exergue DECEPTIS CVSTODIBVS MDXXIX (the guards being deceived)

Condition: Very fine, obverse better, the gilding probably a later addition; Diameter: 46mm

References: MI ii 444/49; E 484; Cochran-Patrick 65/45

Notes: Princess Clementina Sobiewski, granddaughter of the King of Poland, was engaged to Prince James Stuart ("the Old Pretender" or "James III"). George I was opposed to the marriage and Emperor Charles VI had her arrested on her way to Rome. She was imprisoned at Innsbruck castle from which she escaped, marrying James Stuart by proxy at Bologna (he being in Spain at the time). Her father Prince James Sobieski approved of the marriage, declaring that she should "follow his fortune and his cause". This medal is a later cast, although probably almost contemporary with the struck specimens.

Price £95