J106: Medal commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar
View additional and larger photos
© The Holburne Museum of Art, Bath
| Museum number | J106 |
| Title | Medal commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar |
| Object type | In category: Coins and medals » Medal |
| Date | 1805 |
| People |
Boulton, Matthew (English silversmith, manufacturer, and engineer, 1728-1809) (known) - Manufacturer(s) Küchler Conrad Heinrich (?1740-1810) (known) - Medallist(s) |
| Place of origin | Europe » Northern Europe » British Isles » Great Britain » England » Birmingham |
| Condition |
Good |
| Dimensions |
4.8 cm diameter Whole |
| Materials & techniques |
In category:
Metal
»
Pewter
|
| Description |
Circular medal commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar. Obverse: bust of Vice-Admiral Nelson in naval uniform with ribbon and star of the Order of the Bath. With surrounding legend 'HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. &' Reverse: General view of the Battle and the legend 'ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY' Exergue: 'TRAFALGAR. OCTR. 21. 1805'.Inscribed around the edge 'TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M. BOULTON'
|
|||||||||
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
|||||||||
| Notes | Sir William Holburne received this medal in 1805. It was an unofficial medal struck following Lord Nelson's death at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. It was produced at Matthew Boulton's own expense for presentation, with the permission of the Admiralty, to every seaman and marine who took part in the battle. The medal was designed and engraved by Conrad Heinrich Küchler and struck at Matthew Boulton's steam coin press at the Soho Mint, Birmingham. 14,001 medals in pewter, copper or silvered copper were distributed. Sir William was a twelve-year old midshipman on board H.S. Orion at the time of the battle. Holburne also received the official Trafalgar Medal – the Naval General Services Medal with the clasp 'Trafalgar' - when it was issued in 1848, some 43 years after the battle (J108). | |||||||||
| Muse theme | The Art of Collecting |
|||||||||
| Muse chapter |
The History of the Holburne Collection » Sir William Holburne and his Collection » The Founder: Sir William Holburne of Menstrie (1793-1874)
The History of the Holburne Collection » The Collection » Coins and Medals |
|||||||||
| Gallery Label |
TRAFALGAR MEDALS White metal medal of Lord Nelson, rev. Trafalgar, inscribed T.W. Holburne. Mid. Orion" and "England expects…", 1805. Inscribed around the edge "From M. Boulton to the Heroes of Trafalgar". The die made by Küchler. One of these medals, in pewter or copper-silvered, was presented to each survivor of the battle2005 |
|||||||||
| Method of acquisition | Bequest | |||||||||
| Provenance | Presented to Sir T. W. Holburne (1793-1874); by whom bequeathed to Mary Anne Barbara Holburne (1802-1882); by whom bequeathed to the Museum | |||||||||
| Exhibition history |
Title of exhibition: Town House Treasures: Sir Thomas William Holburne of Bath Title of exhibition: Holburne One hundred: an exhibition to commemorate the Centenary of the Museum's opening and the Bic Title of exhibition: A Trafalgar Boy, William Holburne and the Sea |
