Skip to main content

Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685: CM.18-1938

An image of British Isles
View image details

Terms of use

The low-resolution images published on this Website are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY-NC-ND). For more details: Fitzwilliam Terms of Use

This licence does not include any images of works that are still in copyright. Artistic copyright extends from the life of the artist to 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.

Download this image

For further information on use of images or to license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who can discuss terms and fees.

Alternative views

An image of British Isles
Awaiting location update

Titles

Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685

Maker(s)

Ruler: James II (1685-1701)
Engraver: Arondeaux, R.

Entities

Categories

Description

This medal was executed in commemoration of the ill-advised, ill-conducted, and unsuccessful invasions of Monmouth and Argyle, both of whom were defeated, captured, and beheaded.

Dating

Production date: AD 1685

Components of the work

Object composed of silver Diameter (min) 61 mm Diameter 61 mm Weight 77.28 g

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of James II, facing left, laureate, in Roman dress, resting on four sceptres, terminating in the badges of the kingdoms, upon a pedestal, in front of which is affixed the royal shield within the Garter, crowned; below is inscribed, "ARAS ET SCEPTRA TUEMUR. 1685" Neptune in his car, and ships in the distance.

  • Text: IACOBVS II D . G . MAG . BRI . FRAN . ET . HIB . REX. (On base of pedestal) R . A . FEC.
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: A pedestal inscribed, "AMBITIO MALESUADA RUIT."; on it Justice, trampling on a serpent, weighs three crowns against the sword, the torch, and the serpent of Discord. At her feet lie the bodies of Monmouth and Argyle; their heads are on blocks inscribed, "IACOBVS DE MONT. MOUT - ARCHIBALD D' ARGYL." Above the sun; on one side lightening darting against troops discomfited at Sedgemoor; on the other, two heads fixed over the gates of the Tower.

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.18-1938
Primary reference Number: 227616

Audit data

Created: Monday 19 August 2019 Updated: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/227616 Accessed: 2025-12-07 19:48:18

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/227616 |title=Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685 |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-07 19:48:18|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-227616

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm64/large_CM_18_1938_281_29.jpg"
        alt="Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Monmouth and Argyle. Beheaded. 1685</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo