Lot 931

Description

Manchester Riots, August 16 1819, in darkened white metal (62mm) (BHM 989; Eimer 1112), obverse, cavalry troop cutting down men, women and children, reverse, words from Psalm XXXVII XIV. Die crack at date, edge bump and some surface marks on reverse, otherwise extremely fine and rare.

This Riot is also known as 'Peterloo' after the battle of Waterloo. A film titled 'Peterloo' of this riot was released in the UK in 2018. This film portrays the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter's Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw the British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many protesters were killed and hundreds more injured, sparking nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy which also played a significant role in founding of The Guardian newspaper.

Ex Peter Lane collection.