The dies for this series of medals were executed between 1731 and 1732 by the Genevese artist, Jean Dassier while residing in London. They form a continuous series of English sovereigns, from William I to George II. With the exception of the piece of Caroline and the George II dedicatory medal to the series issued in 1731, they are not contemporary. Accordingly, they are not of much historical value as the portraits are either inaccurately copied or are taken from unauthentic sources. Further, some of the dates on the inscriptions are incorrect. These have been noted wherever possible. Nevertheless, as art objects, the portraits are well executed and the allegorical reverses are, for the most part, quite interesting.

Following the original issue, the dies came into the possession of Sir Edward Thomason of Birmingham, by whom additional sets have been made. These latter medals, copper restrikes made in the early 1800s, lack some of the sharpness of the originals and may exhibit more die breaks. Thomason also reworked the Dassier dies and some of these were struck in white metal.

Medals struck in bronze are fairly commonly encountered; those struck in silver are quite rare.