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Isaac Newton royal medal design discovery | Isaac Newton royal medal design discovery |
(3 days later) | |
A student at Oxford University has discovered that a coronation medal was personally designed by Isaac Newton and includes a hidden political message. | A student at Oxford University has discovered that a coronation medal was personally designed by Isaac Newton and includes a hidden political message. |
Postgraduate student Joseph Hone found a manuscript which revealed the scientist had designed the medal for Queen Anne's coronation in 1702. | Postgraduate student Joseph Hone found a manuscript which revealed the scientist had designed the medal for Queen Anne's coronation in 1702. |
It explained the design as symbolising the dual threats of France and rival Stuart claimants to the throne. | It explained the design as symbolising the dual threats of France and rival Stuart claimants to the throne. |
It was described as a "really exciting discovery" by the project leader. | It was described as a "really exciting discovery" by the project leader. |
Researching in the National Archives in Kew, Mr Hone found Newton's handwritten account of designing the commemorative medal. | Researching in the National Archives in Kew, Mr Hone found Newton's handwritten account of designing the commemorative medal. |
The 50-page document had been overlooked for years, he said, as the clasp holding the pages had rusted over. | The 50-page document had been overlooked for years, he said, as the clasp holding the pages had rusted over. |
Propaganda message | Propaganda message |
The design had previously been thought to have been the work of a court painter, but the manuscript shows that Newton, who was Master of the Royal Mint at the time, was responsible. | The design had previously been thought to have been the work of a court painter, but the manuscript shows that Newton, who was Master of the Royal Mint at the time, was responsible. |
Newton's notes reveal that the depiction of the queen as a Greek goddess striking down a monster was not a random picture of a national defender, but a specific reference to contemporary political threats to her rule. | Newton's notes reveal that the depiction of the queen as a Greek goddess striking down a monster was not a random picture of a national defender, but a specific reference to contemporary political threats to her rule. |
In the iconography of this 18th Century propaganda, the creature with two heads represents the joint threat of the French king, Louis XIV, and the so-called "Old Pretender", James Stuart. | In the iconography of this 18th Century propaganda, the creature with two heads represents the joint threat of the French king, Louis XIV, and the so-called "Old Pretender", James Stuart. |
Queen Anne was the daughter of the deposed Catholic monarch, James II, and the old king's son, James Stuart, was living in exile and claiming that he had a more legitimate right to the throne. | |
The medal shows Queen Anne facing this threat of a Catholic alliance between France and the exiled Stuarts, headed by her half-brother James. | The medal shows Queen Anne facing this threat of a Catholic alliance between France and the exiled Stuarts, headed by her half-brother James. |
Gold versions of the medal were to be given out to "persons of quality", according to the notes, with cheaper silver versions to be thrown to the crowds. | Gold versions of the medal were to be given out to "persons of quality", according to the notes, with cheaper silver versions to be thrown to the crowds. |
The medal also divided opinion along contemporary political lines, says Mr Hone, with the Tories "really disliking" it as an attempt to present the new queen in a way that would be more sympathetic to the rival Whigs. | The medal also divided opinion along contemporary political lines, says Mr Hone, with the Tories "really disliking" it as an attempt to present the new queen in a way that would be more sympathetic to the rival Whigs. |
Arts and sciences | Arts and sciences |
Mr Hone, an English PhD student on a Oxford and Exeter university project, says the discovery casts more light on Newton's professional career and how his work moved between science, maths and humanities. | Mr Hone, an English PhD student on a Oxford and Exeter university project, says the discovery casts more light on Newton's professional career and how his work moved between science, maths and humanities. |
"The modern obsession with separating science and the humanities falls down when you go back a few centuries," he said. | "The modern obsession with separating science and the humanities falls down when you go back a few centuries," he said. |
"It's not that he didn't see them as separate, but more that he saw them as inseparable." | "It's not that he didn't see them as separate, but more that he saw them as inseparable." |
He says the notes show Newton switching ideas from science to maths, classical history, politics and literature. | He says the notes show Newton switching ideas from science to maths, classical history, politics and literature. |
"It tells us that Newton didn't conceive of himself as a scientist, but a master of lots of trades. The understanding of him as a great scientist is a later imposition, he would have seen himself more as a public servant." | "It tells us that Newton didn't conceive of himself as a scientist, but a master of lots of trades. The understanding of him as a great scientist is a later imposition, he would have seen himself more as a public servant." |
The project is examining the transitions between different Stuart reigns and looking at public responses during these times of "regime change". | The project is examining the transitions between different Stuart reigns and looking at public responses during these times of "regime change". |
It was a moment when people wanted to advance their own cause by putting themselves on the right side of the incoming ruler. | It was a moment when people wanted to advance their own cause by putting themselves on the right side of the incoming ruler. |
The co-director of the project, Paulina Kewes, from Oxford's English department, described the findings as a "really exciting discovery". | The co-director of the project, Paulina Kewes, from Oxford's English department, described the findings as a "really exciting discovery". |
"The notes and sketches for this medal give us an insight into the politics surrounding Anne's succession and Isaac Newton's surprising role in them." | "The notes and sketches for this medal give us an insight into the politics surrounding Anne's succession and Isaac Newton's surprising role in them." |
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