Bronze Shakespeare Tercentenary medal

Description

Medal, c. 1864. A large bronze medal by Hunt and Roskell, designed by John Bell and engraved by L.C. Wyon. Obverse with bust of Shakespeare based on the Holy Trinity Church bust and the Chandos portrait to left, surrounded by the titles of the plays. A facsimile of his signature beneath the bust is partially encircled by a wreath of wild flowers, such as primrose, cowslip, wild-rose (in which 'a bee sucks') honeysuckle, white water-lily, hemlock, digitalis, bramble berries, meadow sweet, and the larger bindweed, the latter twining around his magician's wand of hazel and witch elm. The reverse shows 'An Apotheosis of the Tercentenary'. The two previous centuries (i.e. 17th and 18th) have already laid their wreaths on the scroll on the poet's knee. The present (19th) century is in the act of crowning him.