DASSIER, Jean: England, ca.1733, Bronze, 41 mm
Obv: Bust of Bacon FRANCISC BACON
Rev: Aurora, holding a star-studded veil and floating on a cloud, approaches the earth. Behind are rays of the rising sun. NON PROCUL DIES (Day is not distant)
Exergue: NAT.1560. M.1626.
Signed: unsigned
From Jean Dassier’s Series, The British Worthies.
Ref: M.I. i, 245/14; Eisler I, 283/2b; Thompson 40/02; Eimer 37/107;  Weiss BW736

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and master of the English tongue. He was born at York House off the Strand, London, the youngest son of the Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon. From 1573 to 1575 Bacon was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1576 he was admitted as an "ancient" (senior governor) of Gray's Inn, and he took up residence there in 1579. After becoming a barrister in 1582 he progressed and, in time, became a Queen's counsel extraordinary, solicitor general and attorney general. In 1584 he sat as member of Parliament. He later sought a post for himself in James I's services. He was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in March 1617. The following year he was made Lord Chancellor and Baron Verulam, and in 1620/21 he was created Viscount St. Albans. In 1618 he fell foul of George Villiers over the issue of the marriage of the daughter of his old enemy, Sir Edward Coke, and fell from power.

The reverse is a flattering allusion to Bacon’s labors. He was the father of Experimental Philosophy, and thus the harbinger of a brighter day. (from Thompson, p. 40)

This medal is similar to BW46  but is a different variety as it is not signed and does not have stops after his name on the obverse.