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Collection record · Small worlds

Angel: St. George Slaying the Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms and Cross (reverse)

The collection record classifies this work as coins. It is dated 1483–85. Recorded culture or place: England, Richard III, 1483-1485.

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OBJECT RECORD

A closer look at the details.

Museum title
Angel: St. George Slaying the Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms and Cross (reverse)
Date
1483–85
Culture / origin
England, Richard III, 1483-1485
Materials and technique
gold
Dimensions
Diameter: 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Artist / maker
Not specified by the museum
Museum
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Accession number
1969.168

FROM THE MUSEUM

In the museum’s words

The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.

This coin is similar to the angel of Henry VI, 1969.167, but from completely different dies. Between the second reign of Edward IV and the reign of Richard III, Edward V, at the age of 13, reigned briefly from April 9 to June 22, 1483. Richard, Edward's uncle, caused the boy to be imprisoned in the Tower where he and his younger brother were murdered at the instigation of Richard. Their bodies were buried under a staircase and lay undiscovered for 200 years.

Richard, who had been Protector during the reign of Edward V, was crowned king. The initial mark, half-rose and sun, once thought to indicate the coins of Edward V, was been assigned to those of Edward IV. The only coins of Edward V which can definitely be attributed to his reign are those with the mink mark boar's head that was also the mark of Richard III. Only five examples of gold angels of Edward V exist.

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Text and image sources

The Cleveland Museum of Art · The Norweb Collection · CC0

The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.

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