Hans Sloane (1660-1753) earned a medical degree in 1683. He was elected to membership in the Royal College of Physicians in 1687, whereupon he traveled to Jamaica and saw cacao mixed with water and served as a beverage. He found it to be more palatable when dissolved in milk and introduced cocoa to England as a medicine. He became a court physician to Queen Anne, Kings George I and II, becoming senior physician to the latter. In 1716, Sloane became the first physician to be awarded a hereditary peerage (Baronet). From 1719-35, he was president of the Royal College of Physicians, and from 1727-40, president of the Royal Society. He funded the London Foundling Hospital and provided the grounds for the Chelsea Physic Garden. Upon his death, he bequeathed his books and collections to the Kingdom of Great Britain. These artifacts became the nucleus of the British Museum.
- Medal
Bronze. England 1744. Signed. Lifetime. To honor the president of the Royal Society in London.
- Size
54 mm
- Artist
Jacques Antoine Dassier (1715-1759), Swiss medallist Jacques Antoine Dassier (1715-1759), Swiss medallist, son of engraver, Jean Dassier. He learned the art of die sinking in France and Italy. He worked for several years at the Royal Mint in London, as well as in Switzerland and Russia. (Forrer 1, 510)
- Obverse
Clothed bust to left wearing cap; in a curve at left and right, HANS SLOANE EQU ∙ BARONETTUS ∙ and in a curve below truncation, A. DASSIER. F. in smaller letters.
- Reverse
Between garland at top and crossed and tied oak branches, PRÆSES / SOCIETATIS REGIÆ / LONDINENSIS / MDCCXLIV ∙ in four parallel lines.
- Ref
Freeman 490; Storer 3382
