(Here's an early rough draft of an article I might post. Thoughts? Criticisms?) When I saw this 1714 medal of George I of Great Britain, I was immediately fascinated by the reverse of the coin. The reverse inscription of this coin reads “Laetitia Publica.” The bottom of the coin (in the exergue) reads “Aventus Regis” or “the King Arrives” 20 September 1714. I remembered that Laetitia was the Ancient Roman goddess of joy, gaiety, and celebration. In fact, here is an Ancient Roman coin with that inscription. Here is an explanation of the goddess Laetitia: http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/laetitia.html One aspect of this goddess is Laetitia Fortuna: So I wondered, what was the association with this Ancient Roman goddess and King George’s arrival? Here's the story: By August 1, 1714, Britain’s lonely and long-suffering Queen Anne had finally died at the age of 49. She had been beset by a myriad of nagging medical problems, including crippling gout, morbid obesity, and a debilitated body ravaged by crude 17th century medical care after seventeen of so pregnancies. She usually miscarried or gave birth to stillborn infants. Of her five children born live, four of them died before two years of age. Her longest surviving child died in 1700 at the age of eleven. She also had to bear the emotional strain of having betrayed her father and having usurped the crown from both her father and her half-brother. By the year of her death in 1714, she was widowed, childless, with no direct Protestant heir who would be acceptable to Parliament. At the time of her death, Great Britain had finally humbled the ambitious French King Louis XIV after a long and bloody war. Despite the welcomed peace with France, the government was torn apart by her cabinet members’ plots and intrigues over her potential successor. Several years earlier in 1701, Parliament had agreed in the Act of Settlement on Protestant successors: the Electress Sophia of Hanover and her heirs. Skipping over dozens of closer blood relations whose only disqualification was their Catholic faith, Parliament had hoped to resolve the uncertainty of Queen Anne’s successor. Of course, there were many in Britain who did not want these German successors to the monarchy and others who didn’t want any monarchy at all. Those that favored Queen Anne’s Catholic half-brother, James Francis Edward Stuart, to be her successor were known as the Jacobites. Queen Anne barely outlived Sophia of Hanover. The next in line for the throne would be Sophia’s son, George I. At the time of Anne’s death, George was already 54 years old. He had spent most all of his life in Germany when he wasn’t at war. His English language skills were poor and his character was described as cold and aloof. George’s family life was in turmoil. His adulterous wife had already been placed under house arrest and would remain there till her death thirty years later. His relationship with his son, the future George II, was strained and distant. It was uncertain how the new King George I (with his mistresses and German retinue) would be received by the British public that September day in 1714. This medal reflects the optimistic hope that George I, representing the new Hanoverian dynasty, would be enthusiastically accepted on his arrival to London by the fickle residents of that city. This George I medal is an example of the later use of Ancient Roman images to characterize contemporary events. guy
Very interesting! Thanks for posting this. I like the medal, and I see no reason that you should refine this draft. Chris
Surprisingly I dont own any coins with Laetitia on them, yet. Cool article & I learned something from it.
Thanks for reading the post everyone. I best enjoy numismatics (and possibly the only time) when there is a connection with history. guy
