Charles I Dominion of the Seas medal 1630

This silver medal portraying Charles I, was crafted by Nicholas Briot. Encircling the King's profile, the inscription boldly proclaims Charles as ruler of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, a symbolic assertion of power and dominion. Consider the profile portrait itself, a motif extending back to antiquity. Roman emperors stamped their likeness onto coins to assert authority. Here, Charles consciously echoes this tradition, seeking to legitimize his reign and project an image of strength. Yet, the claim over France is purely symbolic; a phantom limb of history, harking back to ancestral claims rather than contemporary reality. This persistent invocation of past glories reveals a deep-seated psychological need to connect with a perceived golden age, imbuing the present with the weight of history. The power of symbols lies in their ability to tap into collective memories and subconscious associations, stirring emotions and shaping perceptions across generations.