commemorative medal / Roger Casement, 1916

Roger Casement. Medal, bronze. The obverse depicts a hangman tying a halter around the neck of a figure representing Sir Roger Casement, with the legend 'Englands Tatendrang'. In exergue - Roger Casement. The initials K.G. appear on a chain on one of the arms of the figure (Karl Goetz of Munich, Bavaria, Germany). The reverse depicts a torture chair on which rests a book with the inscription 'Englisch.Gesetz. um. 1351' (a reference to the Treason Act of that year). A spider spins a web which partially covers the book and chair. Around is 'Edvard. III. Tote. Hand. Legt. Den. Strang. Um. Irenland'. In the field - '3 Aug. 1916' (the date of Casemen't execution). Beneath the chair is a skull, serpents, a broken crown and a rat. Diameter of medal is 2.125 inches. Both the obverse and reverse designs were inspired by Casement's speech in the dock - "Edward III was King not only of the Realm of England but also of the Realm of France and he was not the King of Ireland. Yes his dead hand today may pull the noose around the Irishman's neck, whose Sovereign he was not, although it can strain no strand around the Frenchman's throat, whose Sovereign he was ... The judicial assassination of today was reserved for one race of the King's subjects - for the Irishmen; for those who cannot forget their allegiance to the Realm of Ireland".;