3-016-909 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Messrs. Hunt and Roskell's Shakspeare medal, 1864. Commemoration of the Tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth. 'Medal, designed by Mr. John Bell and executed by Mr. L. C. Wyon. Its obverse side presents a head of Shakspeare, the likeness, in profile, being copied from the Stratford bust, combined with the Chandos portrait. Under this is a facsimile of his autograph signature, inclosed in a wreath of wild flowers, among which are the primrose, cowslip, wild rose, honeysuckle, water-lily, hemlock, foxglove, bramble-berries, meadowsweet, and bindweed twining about a hazel wand. The titles of all Shakspeare's plays and poems are inscribed on the face of the medal around the head of the poet. On the reverse side is the figure of Shakspeare glorified, sitting upon a cloud, with three female figures, which personate the three centuries; two of them have already laid their wreaths upon the scroll that lies open on his knee; but the third, which is the present century, puts a wreath upon his head'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.