A medal belonging to the series of British Worthies made by the Swiss engraver Jean Dassier around 1733. Sir Isaac Newton is considered one of the greatest scientists of all time. The exergue on the reverse of the medal states that he was born in 1642 and that he died in 1726. Newton was born on 25 December 1642 in the Julian calendar (Old Style), i.e. 4 January 1643 in the Gregorian. His death is recorded on 20 March 1726 in the old calendar. This is actually March 31, 1727 of the new calendar, as until 1753 the English New Year began on March 25 (the feast of the Annunciation) and not on January 1.
Isaac Newton (1643-1727) A physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, Newton was one of the greatest minds of humanity. In his main work (Principia) published in 1687, the English scientist described the law of universal gravitation and the three fundamental laws of motion. Together with Leibniz (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, 1646-1716), Newton shares the credit for the development of mathematical calculus. His contribution to Optics was also very important, especially with the study of the refraction of light. The impact of his discoveries and scientific thinking was decisive in the course of philosophical reflection, with various other effects on the readjustment of religious and ideological views. Although a precursor of the Enlightenment, alchemy was also among his interests. His less well-known activities include the successful suppression of counterfeiters, as a keeper of the Royal Mint and a justice of the peace in the years 1698-1699. Newton’s glory was characteristically immortalized by the English poet Alexander Pope with an epigram in 1730: Nature and Nature’s laws lay hid in night / God said, Let Newton be! and all was light (Nature and the laws of nature were hidden in darkness / Let Newton be born!, said God, and light was everywhere). Jean Dassier (Swiss engraver, 1676-1763) Jean Dassier was born in Geneva and was the son of Domaine Dassier, principal engraver of the city’s mint from 1677 to 1719. He apprenticed in Paris with Jean Mauger and Joseph Roettiers. After his father’s death, he was appointed principal engraver of the Geneva mint in 1720. From about this time he began to create series of medals, such as a series of figures from Roman history and a series of important figures of the Reformation. In 1728 he went to England where three years later he issued a series of medals with English rulers – including Oliver Cromwell. He is considered one of the greatest metalworkers of the 18th century and his style created a school. His sons, Jacques-Antoine, Antoine and Paul, were also engravers.