Geboorte van Jacobus Frans Eduard, prins van Wales 1688

This silver medal commemorating the birth of James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales, was created by Jan Smeltzing in 1688. Its creation reflects a pivotal moment in British history, steeped in religious and political tension. The medal embodies the intersection of power, religion, and dynastic succession in the late 17th century. James Francis Edward's birth was controversial because it solidified the Catholic Stuart line, heightening fears of a Catholic monarchy in a predominantly Protestant England. The imagery on the medal, with its classical allusions, subtly reinforces the legitimacy and divine right of the Stuart claim. Notice how the medal encapsulates the hopes and anxieties of a nation on the brink of revolution. It serves as a reminder of how personal events within royal families often become powerful symbols in broader cultural and political conflicts. The medal is not just a celebration of a birth; it's a reflection of societal issues of religious and political identity.