Catalogue
William Shakespeare, 280th Anniversary of his Birth, 1844, bronze 40mm by Barre, bust facing left, rev. names of ten of his plays, (BHM 2161, RR). Nearly uncirculated.
Estimate $160
London Missionary Society First Jubilee Year, 1844, in bronze (33mm), obverse, Revd John Williams bust half facing left, reverse, Robert Moffat bust half facing, with legend, "Go Ye Into All The World And Preach The Gospel Unto Every Creature". A few tone spots, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $50
London Missionary Society, 1844, in white metal (51mm) (BHM 2167), by J.Davis, Medallist, Birm, obverse, celestial crown above trumpet entwined with palm branches below the trumpet is a banner with detailed text, reverse, a missionary preaching to a native family, above is a cross surrounded by clouds. Some toning, good very fine.
Estimate $200
Launching of the John Williams Missionary Ship, 1844, in white metal (41mm) (2 varieties of BHM 2201), by J.Davis, Birmingham, and another with different reverse text, also by Davis, Birmingham, all three with pierced hole at top edge, obverse features a starboard view of a sailing ship under sail with specification text below, the reverse text of the ship's use in promoting the gospel on the first two medals in different formats and the third medal has the same message but different text. Extremely fine. (3)
Estimate $500
Abd el Kader, French-Morocco War, 1845, bronze (58mm), obv. bust facing left, rev. lengthy legend in English, 18 lines summarising his career, (not in BHM). Very fine.
Estimate $80
Anti-Corn Law League, 1845, white metal 17mm, sheaf of corn, rev. “COVENT GARDEN THEATRE MAY 18”; Repeal of the Corn Laws, 1846, white metal by Davis, two figures distributing food to a family, rev. Justice standing; Visit of Shah of Persia to England, 1873, brass 30mm, bust of Shah facing, rev. legend; Samuel Plimsoll Laudatory medal, 1875, brass 25mm by Chevalier, bust facing left, rev. ship being wrecked in high seas. Extremely fine. (4)
Estimate $72
Repeal of Corn Laws, 1846, white metal (44mm) by Allen and Moore, obv. four ovals containing portraits of Bright, Cobden, Wilson and Pelham, rev. Britannia standing, (BHM 2234); John Bright 25 years as an M.P. 1883, white metal (45mm) by Moore, obv. bust facing left, rev. legend, (BHM 3145, Eimer 1695); another gilt white metal (35mm), obv. facing bust, rev. legend, (BHM -); another, gilt metal star shaped (45mm), obv. bust facing right, rev. legend. Second and third holed at top, very fine or better. (4)
Estimate $100
William Shakespeare Memorial, 1847, bronze 39mm, by Allen and Moore, bust of Shakespeare facing left, rev. view of his birthplace, (BHM 2297); another with different obverse legend, white metal 38mm, by Allen and Moore, (BHM 2297A, Vol. 3, this specimen). Extremely fine. (2)
Estimate $160
Jubilee of the Church Missionary Society, 1848, in white metal (51mm) (see for example BHM 2308), by Davis, Birm, obverse, celestial crown above trumpet entwined with palm branches below the trumpet is a banner with detailed text, reverse, a missionary preaching to a family of natives, rays from clouds above. Some toning, extremely fine.
Estimate $200
William Hogarth, Art Union of London, 1848, bronze (54mm) by L. C. Wyon, obv. bust facing right, rev. Hogarth's painting of two canvassers soliciting a voter, (BHM 2302, Eimer 1427). Extremely fine.
Estimate $150
Great International Exhibition, 1851, London (76mm), by W.Wyon, Leonard C. Wyon and Royal Mint, London, conjoined heads of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria left with two dolphins below and the date MDCCCCLI, reverse, Britannia seated crowning a kneeling figure of Industry with laurel, Europa, Asia, Africa and America attending, with the legend DISSOCIATA LOCIS CONCORDI PACE LIGAVIT (It has bound together in peace and friendship things widely separated), edge impressed, "Prize Medal Of The Exhibition" and "Duke & Son . Class XXIX.", in case of issue. A few edge nicks, otherwise extremely fine.
Estimate $800
Death of the Duke of Wellington, 1852, bronze 51mm by Pinches, bust facing left, rev. legend in wreath. Extremely fine.
Estimate $90
Death of the Duke of Wellington, 1852, in white metal 50mm by Allen and Moore, bust facing left, rev. Britannia grieving; another, white metal 41mm, bust facing right, rev. equestrian statue; another, white metal 38mm, bust of Wellington facing left, rev. bust of Nelson facing left, (not in BHM, RRR); another in bronze, 31mm by Pigott and Co., bust facing left, rev. legend in wreath, (not in BHM, RRR). Extremely fine. (4)
Estimate $120
Thos. Holloway, memorial medal in bronzed copper (62mm), by J. Moore (Birm). Nearly FDC.
Estimate $250
Visit of Prince of Wales to Canada, 1860, white metal 44mm, facing bust of Prince, rev. legend. The prince was in Canada to open the Victoria Railway Bridge. Extremely fine.
Estimate $90
Garibaldi, War for Independence of Italy, 1860, in gilt metal with ribbon (41mm) by Pinches, (BHM -); Visit of Garibaldi to England, 1864, white metal (42mm) by Pinches, (BHM 2800); and an Italian medal for Death of Garibaldi, 1882, white metal (50mm). First two holed at top for suspension, very fine - good very fine. (3)
Estimate $100
Charles Blondin crossing Niagara Falls, 1860, white metal 45mm, bust of Blondin facing left, rev. view of Niagara Falls with Blondin walking on a tightrope above the falls. Good - very fine.
Estimate $90
Tayleur Fund, for shipwreck survivors, in silver (45mm), "To James Toomey for distinguished gallantry in saving life at Kingstown 9th Febu. 1861 The Rt Honble. Lord Talbot de Malahide (Chairman)". Toned nearly UNC.
Estimate $750
London Exhibition, 1862, prize medal in bronze (76.5mm) (BHM 2747), by D.Maclise and Leonard C. Wyon, obverse, Britannia seated left receiving gifts from kneeling figures with three female figures standing to right and the British lion crouched in the foregone, reverse, inscription within a wreath, "1862/Londini/Honoris/Causa" (presented at London because of distinction) impressed on the edge, "P. Russell. Class IV.". Very fine.
Estimate $400
London Exhibition, 1862, prize medals in bronze (76.5mm) (BHM 2747), one marked by maker Leonard C. Wyon and the other by L.C.Wyon, obverse, Britannia seated left receiving gifts from kneeling figures with three female figures standing to right and the British lion crouched in the foregone, reverse, inscription within a wreath, "1862/Londini/Honoris/Causa" (presented at London because of distinction) both impressed on the edge, "Duke & Son. Class XXIX.", both in damaged cases of issues. Both extremely fine, one with a few small oxidation spots. (2)
Estimate $1,600
Peace in the Franco-Prussian War, 1871, British medal, in white metal 28mm, facing bust, “WILLIAM, EMPEROR OF GERMANY”, rev. “IN COMMEMORATION OF THE RETURN OF PEACE 1871”, not listed in BHM. Very fine.
Estimate $60
Battle of Bussaco, Peninsular War, Monument erected in 1873 commemorating Wellington's victory, white metal (59mm), obv. crossed flags, rev, view of monument. Good very fine.
Estimate $80
William Gladstone 70th Birthday, 1879, bronze 44mm by Wyon, bust facing right, rev. legend in wreath, (BHM 3054, Eimer 1665); Death of William Gladstone, 1898, bronze 47mm by Carter, bust facing left, rev. wreath, (BHM 3628, R). Extremely fine. (2)
Estimate $100
Crystal Palace International Exhibition, 1881, in silver (63mm) (BHM 3107), by Pinches and A Fisch, obverse, a muse holding a caduceus and key opening the doors to the Crystal Palace through which can be seen some of the exhibits, a lamb to the left and Corinthian helmet to right, reverse, name and date of exhibition within a breath, edge impressed, "Hon. P.(?) Russell", with suspension loop fitted to edge causing loss of some letters. Toned good very fine.
Estimate $1,000
Reward of Merit Attendance Medal, c1880s, in white metal (44.5mm), by Allman, London, with fitted ribbon suspender unnamed. Medal extremely fine, suspender aged.
Estimate $40
Centenary of Birth of George Stephenson, 1881, bronze 45mm by Chapman, bust facing left, rev. steam engine pulling a wagon. Uncirculated.
Estimate $120
Centenary of Birth of George Stephenson, 1881, white metal 45mm, by Chapman, bust facing left, rev. steam engine pulling wagons; another in white metal, 32mm, bust facing left, rev. locomotive No. 1; another, white metal 31mm, bust in wreath, rev. locomotive, rare Extremely fine. (3)
Estimate $120
Centenary of Birth of George Stephenson, 1881, white metal 31mm, bust facing left, rev. steam engine, with ribbon and suspender shaped like the first steam engine; another similar, white metal 31mm, in a star shaped brass mount. Extremely fine. (2)
Estimate $72
Death of Benjamin Disraeli, 1881, white metal 44mm, by Ottley, bust of Disraeli, rev. legend, and an elaborate badge depicting Disraeli; James Watt and Co. 1871, bronze 41mm, busts of Boulton and Watt; Royal Polytechnic prize medal, bronze 45mm, bust of James Watt facing left, awarded 1890; Queen Victoria Jubilee 1887, white metal 42mm, by Panton, bust facing left, rev. lengthy legend in wavy lines. Extremely fine. (5)
Estimate $108
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Earls Court, 1887, plaque (92x63mm) in base metal, obv. Annie Oakley shooting a rifle while reclining on a galloping horse, bust of Queen Victoria in a circle lower left, rev. blank, Queen Victoria visited the show and met William Cody (Buffalo Bill) on May 11, 1887. Not listed in BHM. Very fine and very rare.
Estimate $450