Historical and Art Medals

1816. Visit of the Archdukes Johann and Louis of Austria to Edward Thomason’s Factories, Birmingham, 1816, bronze medal by Thomas Halliday, bust of Francis I of Austria in high relief to left, reverse their imperial highnesses the archdukes john and lewis of austria visited thomason & co’s manufactories mdcccxvi, 54mm (BHM 926-R; BDM II, p.190). Obverse extremely fine, reverse good very fine, very rare (£40-60)

Much rarer than Brown suggests and the first example seen by the cataloguers. It is possible this medal was commissioned by Thomason to mark the event and to use as gifts for members of the royal party and perhaps others present on the occasion of the visit rather than as a commercial undertaking – much in the manner of the excessively rare crown-size medals occasionally seen for visits to the British Royal Mint. If this was the case then examples in silver would doubtless have been given to the archdukes, though no specimens in silver are noted in BHM.