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Boulton's Trafalgar Medal: CM.1151-2009

An image of Boulton's Trafalgar Medal

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Die-engraver: Taylor, W. J.
Artist: Küchler, Conrad Heinrich

Entities

Categories

Description

After Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805 the prominent Birmingham industrialist Matthew Boulton distributed about 15,000 Trafalgar Medals at his own expense to participants in the battle. These medals were all in white metal, but subsequent years saw a number of presentation issues in other metals, and between 1860 and 1895 the London die-sinker W. J. Taylor was commissioned by Boulton's heir to produce a new run, which included for the first time an issue in gold of which this piece is one.
The medals all share the same design, which shows a view of the battle, with Nelson’s signal ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY’ above.
As this was not one of the original issues, it had no recipient, and its first owner is unknown. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 48.3 mm
Weight: 73.98 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

1860 - 1895

Materials used in production

Gold

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Nelson facing left

  • Text: HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON K. B. DUKE OF BRONTE
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Sea-battle scene with Trafalgar's name and date given in exergue

  • Text: ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1151-2009
Primary reference Number: 141245
Watson Catalogue: 37
Ordering: M-0034
Previous object number: LW.0034
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Boulton's Trafalgar Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141245 Accessed: 2024-12-22 05:19:59

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141245 |title=Boulton's Trafalgar Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 05:19:59|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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