Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B. C. 500-A. D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer ...

- 457 -
the nineteenth century, by whom there is an accession medal of
Queen Victoria, I837.
HOLE or HOLLE, WILLIAM (Brit.). Cuneator of the Royal Mint,
London, from I618 to 1623. Vide HOLLE.
HOLLAND (Brit.). Gem-engraver of the end of the eighteenth
century. By him is a Portrait in the character of Bacchus, in various
sizes.
HOLLAND, STEPHEN VAN. (B.D.M., II, p. 530; V, p. 674. Vide
HERWIJC, STEVEN VAN supra, p. 445 sqq.).
HOLLE. WILLIAM (Brit.). Chief-engraver at the Royal Mint,
London, appointed on May 29, 1618; died in the Summer of 1624.
Ruding makes no mention of him.
Mr. Hy. Symonds, Engravers of the Tudor and Stuart Periods,
Num. Chron., I913, 361; Mr. H.A. Grueber, Num. Chron.,
1907, p. 346, and Miss Farquhar in Vol. VIII (I905), p. 273 have
contributed valuable information in connection with the work of
this Engraver, which proves him to have been a fit successor to the
Anthonys. " In the twelve months ending March 31, 1620, he was
paid, I20 for making twenty-six patterns, stamps, and irons for
the coining of the newly made gold moneys; this occupied him for
half a year" (Symonds, p. 361).
Mr. Grueber tells us that Holle was the first engraver of music
on copper plates in this country and records a number of his works;
he further associates him with the coinage of 1619, which shows
variations in the types of the Rose-ryal, Spur-ryal, and Angel, and
inaugurates new types for the Sovereign, Half, and Quarter-sovereign, which received the name of Laurels, Half-laurels, and Quarterlaurels on account of the bust of the king being represented with
a laurel-crown. Miss Farquhar however is of opinion that the laurel
and its parts which are of rough design and uneven workmanship
and much resemble the earlier coins of Charles I, should perhaps
be attributed to John Gilbert or Edward Green, who were employed
as engravers at the Mint in a subordinate capacity.
At the Meeting of May 20. r9oS, Royal Numismatic Society,
Miss Helen Farquhar read some 'Notes on William Hole or Holle',
who in 16I8 was appointed " Head sculptor of the Iron for money
in the Tower" and who was generally supposed to have held that
post till the appointment of Nicholas Briot in I633. From the
'Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series', it appears, however,
that Holle died in I624, and w7as succeeded in his office by John
Gilbert and Edward Green. Miss Farquhar suggested that as the
laurels, half-laurels, and quarter-laurels issued during the reign of
James I. are of inferior work to the rose-royal, spur-royal, and
angel, they were executed not by Holle, but by John Gilbert and