Prince James (III) and Princess Louisa, Memorial Medal, 1712
This medal was issued as a memorial to the death of Princess Louisa in 1712 at the age of 19. The medal depicts Princess Louisa and Prince James who were the only children of James II and his second wife Mary of Modena who survived to adulthood. They were both brought up in France whilst their father fought to retain his crown. When James II died in 1701 the responsibility to reclaim the throne was passed to Prince James who was recognised as king of England, Scotland and Ireland by his cousin Louis XIV of France. His efforts to return the House of Stuart to the throne made him best known as “The Old Pretender”.