Medal — Medal of John Milton, England, 1737
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1737
Medal in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number A.33-1935), made in England, dated 1737, attributed to Tanner, John. The museum's brief description reads: Silver medal depicting John Milton, English, by John Tanner, 1737.
Museum description: Medal, silver. Obverse: Bust of John Milton in profile to the right. Reverse: An inscription. The museum records it as Silver, measuring Diameter 5.25 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This silver medal was issued in 1737 to commemorate, as is pointed out by the inscription on the reverse, the erection at the cost of Sir William Benson of a monument to Milton in Westminster Abbey. Milton's portrait is taken from Rysbrack's model for a monument. An example of the medal was presented to the author of the best poem on Paradise Lost. Born in Germany, the engraver and medallist John Sigismund Tanner (c. 1704-1775), moved to England in 1728. He mailby worked for the Royal Mint at the Tower of London and was appointed its Chief Engraver in 1741.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter 5.25 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Silver
- Maker recorded
- Tanner, John
- Place recorded
- England
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- Obverse: IOHANNES.MILTONUS; on the truncation: TANNER.F.; reverse: E/ MARMORE/ IN ECCLESIA/ SANCTI PETRI/ APUD WESTMONASTERIUM/ ERECTORE/ GULIELMO BENSONO ARM:/ ANNO SALUTIS HUMANAE/ M DCC XXXVII/ RYSBRACHIUS/ SCULPSIT.
Identification
- Museum object name
- Medal
- Museum object number
- A.33-1935
- Museum system number
- O313865
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and date against a specialist reference.