PRINCE FREDERICK CREATED PRINCE OF WALES

DASSIER, Jean: England, 1729, Bronze, 41 mm
Obv: Bust of Prince Frederick on a pedestal between the figures of Fame and Britannia; an infant Genius, bearing his plumes and motto, hovers over his head    FRIDERICUS WALLIAE PRINCEPS AET. XXII. (Frederick, Prince of Wales, aged 22.)
Exergue:  MDCCXXIX
Rev: An eagle teaching its young one to fly towards the meridian sun from the summit of high mountains; in the distance, sea with ships    VIRTUTE INGENITA FORTIS DUCTUQUE PARENTIS (Bold by Inherent Virtue and by the Example of its Parent.)
Exergue:  SIC ITUR AD ASTRA. (Thus We Pass to the Skies. Virg. Aen. ix. 641)
Signed:  I.D.
Ref: Med. Ill. ii, 489/29 (ill.) ; Eimer 78/516;  Weiss BW370

Frederick Lewis (1707-1751) was the eldest son of George II and Caroline, and the father of George III. He was created Prince of Wales in 1729 at age 22. The obverse shows his investiture and the reverse alludes to his father's introducing him to his new responsibilities. The relations between father and son were, in fact, unfriendly, as George II ordered Frederick out of St. James' Palace, requested ambassadors to refrain from visiting him and refused to allow him to command the British army against the Jacobites.

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