British and World Coins, Historical Medals

U.S.A., Captain Johnston Blakeley in the Naval Engagement of U.S.S. Wasp v. H.M.S. Reindeer, 28 June, 1814, a silver medal by M. Fürst, johnston blakeley reip fæd am nav wasp dux, uniformed bust of Capt. Blakeley right, rev. eheu! bis victor patria tua te luget plauditq. the Wasp, to windward, firing her port broadside, while the British vessel strikes her colours, inter wasp nav ameri et reindeer nav ang die xxviii junius mdcccxiv in exregue, 65mm, 128.05g (Julian NA.6, Loubat 38, Neuzil 26). Good extremely fine with reflective silver grey fields and areas of pale iridescent blue and gold toning, particularly on the reverse, extremely rare in silver, probably one of only three known specimens [Graded NGC MS 62] £12,000-£15,000

J.J. Ford Collection (Part V), Stack’s Auction, New York, 12 October 2004, lot 168 (from Frank Racine, November 1966) achieving a hammer price of $32,500

USS Wasp had orders to attack British shipping in the English Channel and had already captured seven ships. HMS Reindeer, under the command of Captain William Manners, was ordered to stop Wasp. The action began some 225 miles west of Plymouth in late afternoon. After some time spent manoeuvring, both vessels exchanged broadsides while almost dead in the water.
After twenty minutes' of firing, the two ships came into contact; some of the Reindeer crew tried to board Wasp but were beaten back. A wounded Commander Manners continued to urge on his crew until killed by a musket shot from Wasp's rigging. The American boarding parties followed up the repulse of the British crew by swarming aboard Reindeer. After driving the British crew below, they found the British captain's clerk, almost the only surviving officer of any rank, who surrendered. Reindeer was too badly damaged to be salvaged, so the Americans set her on fire.