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Medals & Decorations

The Ashmolean Museum has a very good collection of British historical medals, dating from the Tudor period to the present day, with particularly high concentrations for the 18th and 19th centuries. Its continental and world holdings are very diverse, with some particularly significant medals of the Italian Renaissance; Germany and the Low Countries in the Renaissance and Baroque age; the papacy; etc. The decorations are mostly British and date from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century.

British historical medal (HCR140387)

Period

Modern

Person

T. Halliday

Dating

1848

Obverse

CHINESE JUNK . KEYING . / CAPTAIN KELLETT / HALLIDAY / EXTREME BREADTH 33 FEET / BURDEN 750 TONS / DEPTH OF HOLD 16 FEET, Chinese junk at sea, left, legends around and in exergue

Reverse

THIS REMARKABLE / VESSEL IS A JUNK OF THE / LARGEST CLASS, AND IS THE / FIRST SHIP CONSTRUCTED BY THE / CHINESE WHICH HAS REACHED EUROPE, / OR EVEN ROUNDED THE CAPE / OF GOOD HOPE. / THIS JUNK WAS PURCHASED / AUGUST, 1846, AT CANTON, BY A FEW / ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMEN. / SHE SAILED FROM HONG KONG 6ₜₕ / DECEMBER, 1846, ROUNDED THE / CAPE 31ₛₜ MARCH, 1847, ARRIVED / IN ENGLAND 27ₜₕ MARCH, / 1848., inscription

British historical medal (HCR140374)

Period

Modern

Person

Victoria, Prince Albert

Dating

1849

Obverse

VICTORIA QUEEN OF G: B: & ALBERT PRINCE OF SAX: COB: ∗, conjoined busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, left

Reverse

THE FIRST VISIT OF A BRITISH QUEEN TO IRELAND AUGT 1849, Irish harp; legend around

British historical medal (HCR140389)

Period

Modern

Person

Victoria, W. Woodhouse

Dating

1849

Obverse

VICTORIA REGINA / WOODHOUSE. F, crowned bust of Queen Victoria, right

Reverse

TO COMMEMORATE HER MAJESTYS VISIT TO IRELAND / WOODHOUSE / AUGUST 1849, allegorical figure of Hibernia holding harp and cornucopia; at feet, child, altar, trophy; inscription around and exergue

British historical medal (HCR140390)

Period

Modern

Person

A. Bovy

Dating

1849

Obverse

A. BOVY., laureate seated female figure, holding laurel and palm, with lyre, palette, and papers; artist's signature around

Reverse

EXPOSITION / DE / L'INDUSTRIE FRANÇAISE / A / LONDRES / 1849, legend in six lines within wreath of oak and laurel leaves

British historical medal (HCR140391)

Period

Modern

Person

C. F. Carter

Dating

1849

Obverse

INIGO JONES / C. F. CARTER F., laureate bust of Inigo Jones, left, wearing a cap and doublet

Reverse

BANQUETING HOUSE / WHITEHALL / 1616., elevation of the Banqueting House at Whitehall

British historical medal (HCR140392)

Period

Modern

Dating

1849

Obverse

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL / LONDON / J. WIENER F., exterior view of St Paul's Cathedral, City of London

Reverse

FOUNDED VIII CENTURY. BURNT XI CENTURY. / REBUILT IN STONE XII. AND XIII. CENTURY. / AGAIN BURNT 1666. / REBUILT IN ITS PRESENT STATE / 1675-1710. / ARCHT CHRIST. WREN. / J. WIENER · BRUSSELS., interior of St Paul's Cathedral, with historical and architectural inscription

British historical medal (HCR140393)

Period

Modern

Dating

1849

Obverse

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FRIENDLY VISIT OF THE TWO NATIONS / ENGLAND'S / RETURN / VISIT TO FRANCE / UNION IS STRENGTH / APRIL 1849., clasped hands; legend in English, around and in five lines

Reverse

EN COMMEMORATION DE LA VISITE AMICALE DES DEUX NATIONS / LA VISITE / DES FRANÇAIS / EN ANGLETERRE / L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE / OCTOBRE 1848., clasped hands; legend in French, around and in five lines

British historical medal (HCR140394)

Period

Modern

Person

W. J. Taylor

Dating

1849

Obverse

ÆLFRED, crowned bust of Alfred the Great, right

Reverse

AND HIS / CHILDREN / THE / BRITISH / EMPIRE / UNITED STATES / AND / ANGLO SAXONS / EVERYWHERE / W. J. TAYLOR LONDON. / 1849, wreath enclosing multi-line inscription; above, eagle with emanating rays

British historical medal (HCR140395)

Period

Modern

Person

Victoria, Prince Albert

Dating

1849

Obverse

VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN & PRINCE ALBERT OF SAXE COBE GOTA ·, jugate busts of Victoria and Prince Albert, left, both draped, Victoria crowned

Reverse

EVERY HEART THROBS WITH HOPE OF THE FUTURE / THE FIRST VISIT OF A BRITISH QUEEN TO IRELAND · AUGₜ. · / + 1849 +, crowned Irish harp on ground; legends around

British historical medal (HCR140396)

Period

Modern

Dating

1849

Obverse

THE COMMON SEAL OF THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK INCORPORATED 1849 / FIDE ET AMORE, two winged angels supporting a shield with a lion, radiant sun above, legend around

Reverse

TO / IN COMMEMORATION / OF THE GRANT / OF THE / ROYAL CHARTER / 17 . SEPT: 1849, inscription in six lines

British historical medal (HCR140398)

Period

Modern

Person

Allen & Moore

Dating

1849

Obverse

SCIENCE, ART, & MANUFACTURES PROMOTED / ALLEN & MOORE. F:, two seated allegorical female figures, one representing Science, the other Art/Manufacture, with various symbolic objects (urn, palette, shield, tools, etc.); signature in exergue

Reverse

FORWARD / COMMEMORATIVE / OF THE EXPOSITION / OF MANUFACTURES &c, / AND MEETING OF / THE BRITISH / ASSOCIATION / AT BIRMINGHAM / SEPᵣ_ 1849., legend in eight lines; above, a shield within a laurel wreath

British historical medal (HCR140399)

Period

Modern

Person

Benjamin Wyon

Dating

1849

Obverse

JACOBO BURNES INDIAM RELINQUENTI MDCCCXLIX / B. WYON SC., bare head of James Burnes left

Reverse

ACADEMIAE MONTIS ROSARUM FRATRES LATOMI BOMBAIENSES / NEC ASPERA TERRENT / OB PATRIAM VULNEA PASSI, coat of arms within ornate surround; motto and legend

British historical medal (HCR140400)

Period

Modern

Person

W. Woodhouse

Dating

1849

Obverse

NOSTRI PLENA LABORIS / ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY / INST D 1751 / WOODHOUSE F., seated female allegorical figure (Hibernia) left, holding spear and cornucopia, shield at side, books and fasces below; inscription in exergue

Reverse

W. WOODHOUSE FECIT., mare and foal standing left, on ground line; engraver's name in exergue

British historical medal (HCR140401)

Period

Modern

Person

Allen & Moore, Prince Albert

Dating

1849

Obverse

H·R·H· PRINCE ALBERT / ALLEN & MOORE. BIRM ₘ_, Bust of Prince Albert left

Reverse

"THE LADIES'' WING" OF THE / LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM, / OLD KENT ROAD, / FIRST STONE LAID BY / H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT, / 2ₙD_ JUNE1849. / C. J. KEMP ARCHₜ_., elevation of the Ladies' Wing of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum; commemorative inscription above and below

British historical medal (HCR140402)

Period

Modern

Person

William Wyon

Dating

1849

Obverse

R. LAMBERT JONES / A.D. MDCCCXLIX. / W. WYON R.A., bare head of R. Lambert Jones, right

Reverse

PRESENTED BY HIS / GRATEFUL FELLOW CITIZENS / TO COMMEMORATE EXERTIONS / BY WHICH THE CITY OF LONDON / WAS IMPROVED ART ENCOURAGED / HEALTH & CONVENIENCE / PROMOTED / CONSCIA / MENS / RECTI, inscription within oak wreath; motto below on ribbon

British historical medal (HCR140403)

Period

Modern

Person

J.S. & A.B. Wyon

Dating

1849

Obverse

· FOR THE BEST ESSAY ON THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST · UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW / NOT / MY WILL / BUT THINE / BE DONE, crown of thorns around central inscription

Reverse

· GIFT OF THE LATE · / · WILLIAM RAE WILSON OF KELVINBANK LLD · ADJUDGED BY THE / PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY AND OTHERS, laurel wreath surrounding blank central field, legend around

British historical medal (HCR140404)

Period

Modern

Person

William Wyon, Victoria

Dating

1849

Obverse

VICTORIA REGINA / W. WYON R.A., diademed head of Victoria, left

Reverse

TO THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAB / MDCCCXLIX, officer on horseback receiving submission of native soldiers, cannon and flags, palm trees in background; year in exergue

British historical medal (HCR140405)

Period

Modern

Person

Allen & Moore, Victoria

Dating

1849

Obverse

BORN MAY 24 1819 . CROWNED JUNE 28 1838 . MARRIED FEB: 10 1840. + / H:M:G:M: QUEEN VICTORIA., crowned "Godless" bust of Queen Victoria, left, in decorated dress

Reverse

TO / COMMEMORATE THE VISIT / OF HER / MAJESTY / TO IRELAND / AUGₜ_ 1849 / ERIN GO BRAGH, crown above central inscription surrounded by branches; below, a harp and scroll

British historical medal (HCR140406)

Period

Modern

Person

Allen & Moore

Dating

1849

Obverse

HOW AMIABLE ARE THY TABERNACLES, O LORD OF HOSTS! Pₛ_ 84. V.1. / ALLEN & MOORE. F. / SHERBORNE / CHURCH., view of Sherborne Church; architectural elevation, legend around, inscription in exergue

Reverse

RESTORATION / COMMENCED / JULY 1849 / BIBLE, crowned book below, dove with olive branch above, inscription in field

French historical medal (HCR140407)

Period

Modern

Person

Victoria, V. Borrel

Dating

1849

Obverse

VICTORIA REINE D’ANGLETERRE / BORREL. F., diademed bust of Queen Victoria, left

Reverse

PEUPLES, FORMEZ UNE SAINTE ALLIANCE, / ET DONNEZ-VOUS LA MAIN. / BERANGER / VISITE FRATERNELLE / DES / NATIONAUX ANGLAIS / AUX / GARDES NATIONAUX / PARISIENS / AVRIL 1849, clasped hands above multi-line inscription