This painting by John James Baker depicts some of Britain’s greatest nobles and politicians of the early 1700s studying coins and medals. This is a group portrait of Whigs referred to as the Whig Junto. This painting was made in 1710 during The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). Two of the members of the group in the center of the table (John Somers, Baron Somers and Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax) were respected antiquarians. In the painting, Somers and Montagu are seen studying numismatic material with other members of the Whig party. In the foreground is a globe of the world and a map. Perhaps it is a metaphor for Britain’s aspiration for world expansion. In the background is an ancient statue, possibly a tribute to the Roman Republican ideals of liberty and civic virtue. First, who were the Whigs? The Whigs were one of the two major political parties in Great Britain at the time. The Whigs would compete with the Tories for power and influence in the government during Queen Anne’s reign. The Whigs also strongly supported the military efforts against the French during The Spanish War of Succession. The Tories, however, increasingly saw the war as futile and did not like the taxes to fund the war. As the struggle became costlier in terms of life and treasure, the war became increasingly unpopular. British General John Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) was forced to align himself to the Whigs for political and financial support. (A few months after this painting was made, the Whigs would suffer a crushing electoral defeat by the Tories. The Tories would soon begin peace negotiations with France, resulting in a controversial Peace of Utrecht with France in 1713.) (Marlborough at the British victory at Blenheim.) Second, who were the Whig Junto? These were a close-knit and ideologically-aligned Whig politicians and patrons who were among the leaders of the party. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Junto A little background biography of some of these Whigs in the painting. First, there was John Somers, one of the great legal minds of his time. He formulated the legal arguments for England’s Glorious Revolution, legitimizing the supplanting of King James II with his son-in-law and daughter (William and Mary). He also crafted the English Bill of Rights (1689), which became a model and inspiration for American colonists over the next one hundred years. Sitting next to him is Charles Montagu, Lord Halifax. Montagu was the great financial adviser for William and Mary. He helped to create the Bank of England and the financial structure that allowed England / Britain to fight over 125 years six successful wars against France. In fact, the only war the British would lose to the French during this period was the American Revolutionary War. Sitting to Somers’ right was the scandalous Thomas Wharton, 1st Marquess of Wharton. Wharton was a brilliant and effective Whig party leader and spokesman. He was also a womanizer and one of the era’s most infamous rogues, notorious for his debauchery. He was a religious skeptic who allegedly broke into a church during a drunken escapade and defiled the communion table and pulpit. Wharton was also known as an expert swordsman. He would win relatively bloodless duels, even harmlessly disarming several opponents. These men were some of the era’s greatest political thinkers and statesmen. They helped to create the modern British parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. These Whig politicians were also scholarly bibliophiles, antiquarians, and numismatists. Men of both parties (Whigs and Tories) helped to promote numismatic study in early 18th century Britain. Is it necessary to be a Whig (and not a Tory) to be a good Numismatist? Certainly not. Here is my copy of a book about ancient coins by John Arbuthnot, a prominent Tory and personal physician to Queen Anne: Above is a book written by the Tory John Arbuthnot (pictured below), published in 1727. He was also a good friend with the famous writer and partisan Tory propagandist Jonathan Swift. So, to be a good numismatist, it is not necessary to be a Whig … but a wig (more precisely, a periwig) sure looks cool. (Marlborough receives three keys on a plate by a kneeling female figure from the surrendering city of Limbourg.) g.
Lovely coins and what a great antiquarian numismatic reference book!!! Not only did one need a wig, but one needed to catalog one's coins in Latin:
