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Boulton's Trafalgar Medal: CM.1153-2009

An image of Boulton's Trafalgar Medal

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Issuer: Boulton, Matthew
Artist: Küchler, Conrad Heinrich
Mint: Birmingham

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, of which this bronzed copper 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.
This piece was not one of the original white-metal issue, and therefore had no genuine recipient; its first also is likewise 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 mm
Weight: 54.65 g

Place(s) associated

  • Birmingham

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1837 - 1847

Note

Bronzed

Components of the work

Object composed of copper ( bronzed)

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.1153-2009
Primary reference Number: 141247
Watson Catalogue: 39
Ordering: M-0036
Previous object number: LW.0036
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://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141247 Accessed: 2024-12-22 10:42:50

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141247 |title=Boulton's Trafalgar Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 10:42:50|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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