Edward IV, 1442-1483, King of England 1461 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This exquisite gilded bronze medal, crafted by Swiss medalist Jean Dassier in1731, immortalizes Edward IV (1442–1483), the Yorkist king who seized England's throne in 1461 the Wars of the Roses. Measuring just 4.11 cm in diameter and weighing nearly 33 grams, its obverse likely features a detailed portrait of the monarch, capturing his pivotal role in a turbulent era of civil strife that reshaped English monarchy. Dassier, renowned for his family’s series of historical medals depicting rulers and luminaries, employed masterful intaglio techniques to strike this piece from bronze, then gilded it for a luxurious sheen mimicking royal coinage. This medium elevated medals from mere currency to collectible art objects, blending sculpture’s precision with numismatic tradition. Produced over two centuries after Edward’s reign, it reflects 18th-century fascination with medieval history, serving as an educational emblem of Britain’s royal lineage. Now housed in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from Lisa and Leonard Baskin, this medal invites visitors to ponder how such small-scale sculptures preserved the legacies of kings, bridging past glories with modern appreciation.