Christ's Hospital medal

This badge was struck for Christ's Hospital, a charity school at Newgate. The Hospital was also known as a 'bluecoat school' owing to the colour of the boy's uniform. The badge was worn on the right shoulder by boys known as the 'Twelves'. Their education was paid for by the bequest of a governor, Henry Stone. Stone's will stated that at least £50 a year should be spent on educating boys in arithmetic and navigation at the Royal Mathematical School. A controversy developed among the Hospital Governors over what proportion of the total bequest should be allocated. This led Samuel Pepys to intervene. Pepys became the hospital's Vice President in 1698 and decided that the money should be spent on educating twelve boys annually.

The scene shows boys doing arithmetic and measurement using a steelyard and compasses under a Latin inscription meaning 'by number weight and measure'. There is a globe on the floor to the left. Boys were traditionally apprenticed as mariners upon leaving the Hospital. The die for this badge is thought to have been presented to the Hospital by Sir Isaac Newton, who was both a hospital governor and Warden of the Royal Mint.