COINS & HISTORICAL MEDALS: 6 MARCH

Two medal highlights relating to the War of 1812 recall how trade restrictions have long played their part in fomenting conflict. In this case, Britain imposed the restrictions on United States' trade with France, with whom the British were also at war.

Other motives also led to the conflict, including American expansionism in the face of resistance from native tribes, who were backed by the British. Ultimately, the Americans won, effectively ending any hold that the British had held over the lands west of the Atlantic.

 

Considering the British blockade of the United States' Atlantic ports and harbours, supremacy of the US navy in domestic waterways were to prove crucial – ultimately even decisive.

An important battle took place on Lake Eyrie on September 10, 1813, when the United States defeated the British who, as a result, became isolated on Lake Huron. The Americans were then able to improve their supply lines.

The commander of the U.S. naval forces at the battle was Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry, and this auction includes the silver medal presented to him to mark the victory. By the Hungarian-American engraver Moritz Fürst, it depicts the uniformed bust of the victorious Perry right.

Above is the legend oliverus h perry princeps stagno eriense, and beneath, classim totam contudit. The reverse shows a view of the American and British fleets, with viam invenit virtus aut facit above and inter class ameri et brit die x sep mdcccxii in exergue.

At 64.5mm in diameter, and the mount removed at 12 o’clock, this is a very fine and extremely rare medal and comes with an estimate of £8,000-12,000.

Also offered is the Ship’s Surgeon’s Own Medal awarded to Dr John A. Kearney, surgeon of the USS Constitution, which was victorious against HMS Cyan and HMS Levant about 100 miles east of Madeira on 20 February 1815. This was three days after the war had officially ended via the Treaty of Ghent, but before word had come through of the fact.

The silver-gilt medal, also by Furst, depicts the uniformed bust of Captain Charles Stewart of the USS Constitution right. Above is the legend carolus stewart navis amer constitution dux. To the reverse, the inscription una victoriam eripuit ratibus binis is above a battle scene of the USS Constitution left engaging the British vessels at right. inter constitu nav ameri et levant et cyan nav ang die xx febr mdcccxv appears in exergue. The edge of the medal is named (Presented by the President to Doctr. John A. Kearney in Compliance with a Resolution of the Congrefs of the United States).

At 65mm in diameter and lightly gilt, with a mark in the obverse field, together with a few rim nicks, but otherwise in good very fine condition, this extremely rare medal also comes guided at £8,000-12,000.