Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

A rare Sea Gallantry (Foreign Services) gold life saving medal awarded in 1845 to Captain Buntin of the U.S.S. Euphrasia

Sea Gallantry Medal (Foreign Services), first large type (1842-49), 22 carat gold, 66.70g, 45mm, with specially struck reverse ‘From the British Government to Captn. Buntin of the United States Ship Euphrasia. For saving the crew of the Brigantine C.W.E.R. of Halifax. 1845’, contained in its original presentation case, the lid with similar embossed inscription, extremely fine and excessively rare £6,000-£8,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Originally conceived in 1839, the Sea Gallantry (Foreign Services) Medal was first awarded in 1842, in gold, silver and bronze to foreigners for saving the lives of British subjects at sea. In this first period each medal had a specially die-struck reverse but, due to the enormous cost of doing this, it was decided in 1849 that two standard reverses would be used: ‘For Saving the Life of a British Subject’, and ‘For Assisting a British Vessel in Distress’. This large size (1.78 inches) remained in use until 1854 when it was reduced in size to 1.27 inches. It is not known how many large gold medals of the earlier type (1842-49) were awarded but a total of 96 gold medals were awarded prior to being down-sized in 1854, the awards becoming more frequent in the latter years of this period. It may be fair to assume that perhaps 25 gold awards were made with special inscriptions, although the true number may be significantly fewer (No example held in National Maritime Museum or Royal Navy Museum).

The Naval Journal of July 1846 reported:

‘DISASTER
Ship Euphrasia, Bunting (sic), from Baltimore bound to Valparaiso; on the 30th Aug. last, fell in with the wreck of Br. brig C. W. E. R. from Halifax for Demerara, and took off the captain, supercargo and five men, all of whom were carried to Valparaiso. The mate was drowned.’

Captain Charles Buntin acknowledged receipt of this medal in a letter addressed to the Rt. Hon. Richard Pakenham, Washington, D.C., dated Newburyport, Mass., April 21st, 1847:

‘SIR: Having recently returned home from a long absence, I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 7th December last, and a gold medal bearing the portrait of her Majesty the Queen, with other appropriate devices accompanying the same, and which you are pleased to inform me her Majesty's government has seen proper to present to me as an acknowledgement for services rendered in saving the lives of the captain and crew of the English brigantine, C. W. E. R., of Halifax, in August, 1845. I accept, sir, with feelings of peculiar gratification, the medal as a gift of high consideration, and shall ever esteem it and the event it commemorates as the most fortunate circumstance of my life.
I remain, sir, most respectfully,
your most obedient and
humble servant.
CHARLES BUNTIN’