The Silich Collection of Historical and Art Medals (Part I)

ENGLAND, Battle of Waterloo, [1815], an original filled copper electrotype copy of the proposed medal by B. Pistrucci, laureate busts of the Prince Regent, Francis II of Austria, Alexander I of Russia, and Frederick William III of Prussia conjoined left, mythological scenes around, rev. Wellington and Blücher in Roman dress on horseback left, guided by Victory, Jupiter in quadriga above, frieze depicting the battle of the giants below, 133mm, 680.40g (Eimer 57; BHM 870; BDM IV, 593-6; E 1067a; cf. Noonans 271, 885). Extremely fine, rare £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Silich Collection of Historical and Art Medals.

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William Wellesley Pole (1763-1845), Master of the Mint and the Duke of Wellington’s elder brother, invited designs from the Royal Academy for a gold medal intended to be given to the rulers of the Alliance, their generals and senior ministers. The Prince Regent, however, approved the design submitted by Pistrucci, an engraver at the Mint. Pistrucci was much involved with the new coinage of 1816 and it was not until 1819 that preparatory wax models were submitted for approval. Amazingly, thirty years were to elapse before the dies were completed, by which time all of the intended recipients of the medal, with the sole exception of Wellington, had died. Electrotype copies, the majority with obverse and reverse not united as this specimen is, were eventually produced in 1852.