SOHO MINT DIES OFFERED IN WOOLLEY & WALLIS SALE

Lot 446: Die for Matthew Boulton's Trafalgar Medal
Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805), Matthew Boulton's Trafalgar Medal, 1805, the original obverse and reverse dies, by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, obv: uniformed bust of Nelson, HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. &c, rev: view of the naval engagement, ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY, exergue: TRAFALGAR. OCT. 21. 1805; the reverse die with deep alignment cut on edge, 55 x 68mm, 57 x 71mm (BHM.584; Milford Haven 1919, 496; Eimer 960; Pollard, NC 1970, 30). Good fine, actual medal surface showing rust damage. (2) T

here were three attempts to obtain a life-like portrait of Nelson, the Nelson family and Lady Hamilton both rejected the first, taken from a drawing by Lady Beechey. Lady Hamilton then provided a miniature and Boulton's friend J. Furnell Tuffin provided a drawing by Simon de Koster, but again this was rejected. Lady Hamilton then provided a wax portrait by Catherine Andras (1775-1860), which she believed to be "the most striking likeness". The reverse battle-scene was designed by the marine artist Richard Clevely, who took it "at the time the Royal Sovereign is going into action partly enveloped in smoke …". The medal was finally completed in October 1806 and the King was presented with a specimen at breakfast on the 24th.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Silver, Vertu, Coins & Medals - Lot 446 (www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/Lot/?sale=SV190116&lot=446)

Lot 447: 10th Anniversary of Bolton's Death Medal
Matthew Boulton, 10th Anniversary of his Death, 1819, the master puncheon die for the obverse of the Memorial Medal, by G F Pidgeon, in the style of Küchler and after Peter Rouw, bust right, in frock coat, his hair en queue, in positive, without legend, but signed PIDGEON F below bust, 56 x 80mm (cf BHM 976; Eimer 1114; Pollard pp 316-318). Good fine, actual medal surface showing some rust damage.

Work on the Memorial Medal commenced early in 1812 and as Rouw's wax of 1803 had been broken, he had to prepare a new one for Pidgeon to work from. It was finished in 1815, and the reverse was commenced in November of that year. The obverse squeeze illustrated by Pollard, pl XXIII, 3, differs from the present bust in having no tie to the queue. Pollard quotes Matthew Robinson Boulton writing that it had been completed, "after innumerable obstacles & disappointments…. And finally by the death of the engraver in the progress of the work ….".

To read the complete lot description, see:
Silver, Vertu, Coins & Medals - Lot 447 (www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/Lot/?sale=SV190116&lot=447)

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