James Mudie "National" Medals of British Victories over the French under George III
In our June Collectors Choice online (CCO) auction we will feature a selection of choice British "National" Medals depicting victories over the French under the reign of George III. This highly intricate and stylized series of medals by James Mudie included contribution and collaboration with many famous and prolific contemporary engravers and cost nearly 10,000 Pounds Sterling. Prepared over nearly six years and completed around 1820, the series contains 40 different medals by such greats as W. Wyon, A. Dupre, J.J. Barre and J.P. Droz to name a few. This accomplishment, recognized as significant in its day, was dedicated to the King’s son, George IV.
Most of the subject matter depicted in this series includes specific military engagements and features finely engraved busts of the individuals and events they are commemorating. Appropriately the first medal from the series (#1 of 40), dated MDCCCXVII (1817), displays the handsomely engraved bust of George III and commemorates Religion, Faith and Constancy, while the reverse depicts togate Religion standing left holding a long cross and extending her right hand to Constantia seated right holding a cornucopia. The example in our upcoming auction offers impressively intricate details, smooth surfaces and a lovely milk chocolate bronzed patina.
The next medal featured in our auction (#11) depicts the leftward facing bust of the Duke of York, while the reverse displays a regal scene where the Queen seated facing right is presenting the kneeling Duke of York left with a banner, and soldiers and officials in the background.
Other examples from this series in the coming sale include:
# 19 Lieutenant General Sir. T. Picton – Badajoz Taken (1812) by Mills F.
# 29 Visit of the Allied Sovereigns of England with reverse inscription "ARMIS ET CONSILIIS" by Mills F. and Brenet F.
# 31 The Duke of Cambridge – The English Re-Enter Hanover (1814) by Webb F. and Barre F (J.J. Barre).
Each piece is expertly executed with crisp design features, smooth surfaces and lovely patina that all combine for an exquisite display presentation.
In their aggregate, this interesting series of medals gives a wonderful visual representation of the military prowess of the British Empire during the early years of the 19th century. The series size (40 medals) makes it both obtainable, yet challenging. As such, we believe it is destined to appeal to discerning collectors and historians for ages to come.
We are currently taking consignments of world and ancient coins and world paper money for our June Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auction as well as the August ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. We are also accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 19-22, 2019, Hong Kong Showcase Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) contact one of our consignment directors.
