1890/1

Silver Medal: Royal Alfred Lodge

Date:- 1772 - Classification:- Lodge/Chapter Etc.; Members

Country of Origin:- England - Province/Region/District:- Old English Lodges

Order:- Craft (& Freemasonry General)

Description

One of the rarest and oldest of English medals. Marvin knew of only two impressions in America, and had not seen it mentioned by any English writer; but, in his notes and corrections, he states that Bro. W. J. Hughan had traced it, and stated that it wasstruck by the “Royal Alfred Lodge,” warranted at Oxford in 1769 as No. 455. The Lodge collapsed in 1790. The Minute Book is preserved by the present University Lodge (Apollo), and under date October 22, 1772, is the following entry: “Bro. Treasurer laidbefore the Lodge a copy of the die of a Medal, which was approved of, and ordered that forty be struck for the use of the Lodge.” November 6, 1772. “Agreed that every Master Mason shall pay lOs. 6d. for Medal; none under that degree being admitted to that distinction.” The obverse shows a slight crack in the die running in front of the profile to the breast. It is mentioned by Merzdorf (2), by the Legend only, as being in Rostock Collection. See long comment on features of this Medal in Marvin, Note 304.Bro. Hughan secured Bro. Marvin’s piece for the “Apollo University Lodge,” Oxford, at the sale of his medals.

Obverse.—Bust of King Alfred, in profile, to left, wearing a coronet with alternate strawberry leaves and fleur.de-lis. On the shoulders a narrow collar of ermine. Legend, Dominus Illuminatio Mea (The Lord my Light).

Reverse.—-A shield, quarterly, 1 and 4, all open book, having six seals attached to the left cover between three crowns, two above and one below; 2 and 3, on a cheveron between three castles a pair of compasses extended; the colors are not indicated. Crest: The sun in splendour. Legend: Sit Lux Et Lux Fuit (Let there be light and there was light).

Engraved in M., Plate 15, Figure 54.