The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Ezekiel Spanheim, Baron (1629 - 1710)

Swiss diplomat and scholar. Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of Prussia to William III and then Queen Anne. Buried in a vault below St Paul's chapel, with his wife Anna. Author of De praestantia et usu Numismatum Antiquorum (1706-17).

from Ralph Thoresby's diary:

"That noble Lord, Baron Spanhemius, Envoy from the King of Prussia, and author of that learned book De praestantia et usu Numismat. Antiq. desired to borrow the manuscript catalogue of my coins, and told me upon perusal, that he wondered how a private gentleman could attain such a treasure. Disuse had made me very unfit to gold a continued discourse in Latin, so that when Dean Gale was not with us, we had a sad broken mixture of Latin, Dutch, and English" (II. 37).

"After dinner, at Mr. Dale's, walked again to the West-end of the town, to make good Sir Andrew Fountain's promise to Baron Spanhemius, Ambassador from the King of Prussia, who received me most courteously, and told me, by his interpreter, that he was mightily surprised with my catalogue of coins; he took notes of some that were more rare; he presented me with his picture, and honoured my Album with his name, who is the most celebrated father of the antiquaries of this age." Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel,_Freiherr_von_Spanheim Relevant locations: Residence at London, England
 Relationships: Frederick William I of Prussia (14 Aug 1688-31 May 1740) was a employer of Ezekiel Spanheim
Ezechiel [merge with 1403 later] Spannheim (-) was a same person as? (uncertain) Ezekiel Spanheim
Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
 References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

FORFor the Cornelian Signets, see the Roman Antiquities. A very ancient and small Stone to be set in a Ring 1 h x, which I take to be the old Cypher for Jesus, the only Difficulty is in the later, which is S or C: But when I had the Honour (in Company of the Learned Dr. Gale) to be known to his Excellency Baron Spanheim, then Ambasador from the King of Prussia to K. William, I presently learned that x is very often used for S, not only upon some ancient Coins, but Marbles. A large Copper Oval with IHS, in modern Characters, with the Cross above and wounded Head and Nails below, the whole surrounded with Rays of Glory. But this seems rather designed to make Wafers for the Eucharist, or perhaps for the Impression upon certain Books. A Seal in a smaller Oval with the Portraiture of St Margaret inscribed in obsolete Characters Saunca Margaretta. It was an early Custom among the Christians to have the Names and Pictures of their Tutelar Saints cut upon their Signets. The Seal of the Gray-Friars at Bedford, tho' found at Ardington Nunnery in Yorkeshire: It is inscribed S. Communitatis: Frm: minor Bedfordi. (Don. D. Sam. Ibbetson Merc. Leod.) The Seal of the Prioress of Tuba, round the Virgin Mary with her Son is inscribed S (for Sigillum, as in the former) Helisadis porisse de Tuba. This, and the former are Oval, what follows are Circular. A large one of Copper with the Angel Gabriel, and the Salutation, ┼ Ave Maria Gracia plena, Dominus tecm tecum. Another with the Virgin and our Saviour with this Legend, ┼ Virgo Pudica Pia, nostri miserere Maria. These three were sold amongst old Metal, but preserved for me by Mr. Sam. Smith Bell-Founder at Yorke, with two lesser of later Dates, one hath the Duke of Yorke's Head with D Y under a Ducal Coronet. The other a Talbot upon a Wreath under a Viscount's. A small one but more ancient, hath Z between two Crosses, inscribed, Gurdon de Pontfrac: Sent me by the Reverend Mr. Lascels Lecturer at Pontfract. A Brass Seal Ring found at Kirkstal-Abbey, but seems not very ancient; it hath a Demi-Lion upon a Tower. Don. D. Jo. Rontree Alderm. Leod.