When numismatics and obstetrics collide, part I...

Stork · May 14, 2005 7:30AM

Okay, and history was changed too...

Princess Charlotte death medal:

Princess Charlotte, the only child of George IV, died after a protracted labor and delivery of a stillborn son. In obstetric circles this is referred to the "triple obstetric tragedy" because the mother, the baby and the obstetrician (though not called by that name back then) were all lost.

Her labor was protracted, with the head of the baby near crowning for nearly 24 hours. If forceps had been used the baby would have been delivered much sooner, which might have saved the baby. Princess Charlotte subsequently died, apparently of a post-partum hemmorhage. The obstetrician, who did not choose to take the advice of consultants recommending the use of forceps, killed himself a few days later.

Her parents did not reproduce again, so the crown eventually went to Victoria.

Cathy

Aethelred · May 14, 2005 7:35AM

Very interesting bit of history and a stunning medal!

newbiecollector · May 14, 2005 7:41AM

Very nice medal

trozau · May 14, 2005 7:43AM

Makes you wonder what might have been if Victoria never became queen of England.

cosmicdebris · May 14, 2005 7:44AM

Awesome medal Cathy.

laurentyvan · May 14, 2005 7:50AM

Great presentation on an interesting historical piece!

farthing · May 14, 2005 8:31AM

Princess Charlotte is a cusp in history. Who can say how different history would have been if she had lived. Not only did her death pave the way for Victoria to become Queen of England (whose decendents are scattered throughout European royality) but her husband was Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Following her death he returned to the continent were he eventually became the first king of Belgium. Leopold encouraged the marriage of his nephew Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to marry Victoria.

farthing · May 14, 2005 8:36AM

From another web site:
"By the first week of November the end of Charlotte's pregnancy was rapidly approaching. She had grown very weak as a result of the continued bleedings and malnourishment prescribed by her medical staff. Leopold, worried sick about his wife's excruciating pains, rarely left her side. Labor pains began on November 3, and Charlotte's martyrdom would extend itself over the next two days. The baby was in transverse position and very large. The medical staff realized that forceps were required, yet they chose not to use this method. On the evening of 5 November, after a protracted labour of over 50 hours, she was delivered of a stillborn son at Claremont House. Her treatment during and following the birth was grossly mismanaged, and she died of post-partum hemorrhage and shock at two o'clock in the morning of 6 November. Leopold was distraught beyond his wits. The public went mad with grief at the loss of the popular princess. She was buried in the Royal Tomb House at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with her infant at her feet. The outpouring of public grief at her death was not matched until the death of Princess Diana."

Stork · May 14, 2005 9:11AM

And for some genetics:

Why is hemophilia called The Royal Disease?

Hemophilia has often been referred to as The Royal Disease. The marriage of England's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert marked the beginning of hemophilia in the British royal line. Queen Victoria, Queen of England from 1837 to 1901, was a carrier of the hemophilia gene. She had nine children and as English royal family members married into royalty of other countries, the disease eventually infected most of the royal houses of Europe. So hemophilia gained its title of The Royal Disease because it spread through the royal families of Europe through Victoria's descendants.

...From Queen Victoria and the British royal family it spread through the royal houses of Europe as monarchs arranged marriages to consolidate political alliances. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's marriage began the trail of hemophilia in the British royal lineage and became the link for the eventual spread into the Spanish, German (Prussian), and Russian royal families. It is also believed that Victoria's children spread the disease through the royal lineages of Denmark and Austria, but without solid records it is difficult to tell for sure.

Some cut and paste from : Here

My how the course of history might have been changed--maybe simply by applying the forceps in a timely fashion.

Cathy

satootoko · May 14, 2005 9:21AM

Interesting stuff Cathy, but really far more than I ever wanted to know about obstetrics or hemophillia.

DorkGirl · May 14, 2005 9:27AM

Very interesting medal and stories, thanks

Aethelred · May 14, 2005 10:05AM

This to me is what makes our hobby such a great one. How many of us would have ever gotten to know Princess Charlotte without seeing Cathy's medal?

AuldFartte · May 14, 2005 10:11AM

<< <i>Makes you wonder what might have been if Victoria never became queen of England. >>

Well, for one thing, I wouldn't have all those fabulous Victoria coins to try to obtain

Cathy, that medal is incredible

And the accompanying history lesson is just wonderful. Thanks for posting it !!!

ajaan · May 14, 2005 10:11AM

<< <i> How many of us would have ever gotten to know Princess Charlotte without seeing Cathy's medal? >>

Well since she died well before I was born, not before wybrit was born mind you, I couldn't have gotten to know her.

Aethelred · May 14, 2005 11:07AM

<< <i>

<< <i> How many of us would have ever gotten to know Princess Charlotte without seeing Cathy's medal? >>

Well since she died well before I was born, not before wybrit was born mind you, I couldn't have gotten to know her. >>

I thought Wybrit was born in the 1830s.

lordmarcovan · May 14, 2005 11:09AM

Awesome.

farthing · May 14, 2005 11:57AM

It's a beautiful medal Cathy. I have bid on several Charlotte death medals on eBay but have never been successful.

Garneteye · May 14, 2005 12:03PM

Thanks for the post, I enjoyed the additional historical information.

Dan

coinrookie · May 14, 2005 1:39PM

Great piece of history and the background story makes the medal a powerful representation of a tragic event.

Steve

oldshep · May 14, 2005 3:58PM

Cathy - Thanks for sharing the coin and the history. Very interesting.
Shep

wybrit · May 15, 2005 12:34PM

Great medal and nice commentary. It's what makes this place interesting. Thank you!

Luvdawgs · May 15, 2005 2:34PM

Thank you for posting this interesting info, Cathy. I even asked my hubby to come over to my computer to read him about this because he is fascinated by history.

elverno · May 16, 2005 1:33AM

A lovely medal. I really like 3/4 portraits, they're so uncommon.

It is interesting to think of Victoria as a minor duchess somewhere in Germany isn't it? No Gothics, no Draped bust... hm...

drjules · May 16, 2005 2:09AM

Awesome medal and a tragic piece of history

Dr J

1jester · May 16, 2005 5:43AM

Cathy, thanks for sharing with us the tragic story as well as this beautiful and very moving medal.

When numismatics and obstetrics collide, part I...

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