FAQs

What makes a coin valuable?

Plus Icon

I have coins to sell, what’s the next step?

Plus Icon

How will my purchases be shipped?

Plus Icon

What happens if I’m not entirely happy with my purchase?

Plus Icon
DG09947

Archbishop Sancroft and the Seven Bishops, 1688.

Archbishop William Sancroft (1617-1693) and the Seven Bishops, 1688, struck Silver Medal by George Bower, bust of Sancroft right, wearing a cap and clerically robed, rev medallic portraits and the names of the Bishop of London and the six other imprisoned bishops, 50mm (Eimer 288a; MI i 622/37). About extremely fine, scarce as a struck medal.

In April 1688 James II issued a second Declaration of Indulgence giving Catholics and non-conformists religious freedom. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sancroft, together with six of his bishops refused to allow the declaration to be read out in their churches. They were arrested, then brought to trial on 29th June, but acquitted the following morning.

The bishops depicted on the medal's reverse are Henry Compton [London] shown in the centre, and from the top right clockwise, Francis Turner [Ely], Thomas Ken [Bath], John Trelawney [Bristol], Thomas White [Peterborough], John Lake [Chichester] and William Lloyd [St Asaph]. In fact Compton had not been tried with the other bishops but had previously been suspended from his position on account of his anti-catholic sentiment.

The acquittal was popular and a variety of medals were produced to celebrate the bishops' release. The struck medal above proved so popular that casts were made to satisfy demand but the struck originals remain quite rare.

FAQs

What makes a coin valuable?

Plus Icon

I have coins to sell, what’s the next step?

Plus Icon

How will my purchases be shipped?

Plus Icon

What happens if I’m not entirely happy with my purchase?

Plus Icon
1 of 4