The Dr Jerome J. Platt Collection of 17th-Century Medals

Charles II, Restoration, Gigantomachia, 1660, a cast silver medal by G. Bower, bust left with hair long, draped in robes of the Garter, carolvs ii dei gratia mag br fra et hib rex, rev. Jupiter, seated on his eagle, hurls thunderbolts upon the giants who lie prostrate in a desolate landscape, without legend, signed g bower f, ornamental border both sides, 64mm, 99.97g (Platt II, p.357; MI I, 458/50; E 213). A contemporary cast of this extremely rare medal, edge knock at 5 o’clock on reverse, nearly extremely fine
£2,000-£3,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Dr Jerome J. Platt Collection of 17th-Century Medals.

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In Greek mythology, the Gigantomachia was the battle between the Gods and the Giants. The reverse of this medal portrays Zeus striking the Giants with thunderbolts, a representation of Charles taking revenge on the Regicides - those responsible for the execution of his father. Bower creates a strange and sombre landscape littered with the elongated corpses of the defeated Giants - an odd and slightly disturbing image, and most unusual for the time.