Medal commemorating the foundation of the mathematical school (the Royal Mathematical Foundation) of Christ's Hospital in 1672. Obverse: Bust of King Charles II with short hair, in decorated armour and mantle (looking right). Legend: 'CAROLVS . SECVNDVS . D . G . MAG . BRI . FRAN . ET . HIB . REX.' (Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Britain France and Ireland).

Reverse: Four figures - two male, two female - standing on the sea-shore with a Bluecoat boy in the foreground. These represent Arithmetic (left) holding a tablet, her left hand resting upon the boy's head; Mathematics holding a triangle and compasses (centre); Mercury behind, the herald of the Gods and (among other things) guide to merchants, bearing a caduceus signifying genius; and Astronomy holding an armillary sphere (right) with a cross staff visible above his right shoulder. Above on clouds the infant Fame is shown blowing a trumpet and two other cherubs upend a cornucopia of plenty. Zephyrs blow a favourable wind upon ships below in distance (left). Legend: 'INSTITVTOR AVGVSTVS . 1673.' (The Royal Founder.)

The mathematical school was in fact founded by Charles II in 1672, when he put funds in the hands of trustees for the education of 40 poor boys to be trained in mathematics at Christ's Hospital Scool, primarily as navigators: of these the top ten each year, selected by examination, were entered to become Masters the Navy.

This medal was struck the following year by Roettier, who with his brothers Joseph and Philip was joint engraver to the Royal Mint from 1662: they later left but he only retired in 1689. The diarist John Evelyn called it a 'glorious medal' and it is considered one of the finest struck in England to that time. The silver badge worn by the mathematical scholars on their coats was a slight variant of the medal's reverse design, to allow space for a different inscription (AUSPICIO CAROL. SECUNDI REGIS 1673): see MEC0879.