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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 commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98798)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello, Clementine Churchill

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Clementine Churchill and Sir Winston Churchill hand in arm, being married; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 12th September 1908 / Winston Churchill / and Clementine Hozier / married at St. Margaret's, / Westminster. . . 'I married / and lived happily / ever after. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98799)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

WALKER / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, wearing top hat, among policemen, in street scene; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Siege / of Sidney Street. / On 3rd January 1911 / Churchill as Home / Secretary intervenes when / 'a gang of anarchists' / holds siege in a house / in Whitechapel, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98800)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, looking at ship through binoculars; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Mobilisation of the / Fleet.On the night of / 30th July 1914 Churchill as / First Lord of the Admiralty / on his own initiative / orders the fleet to / Battle Stations, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98801)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, standing over a tank; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Development of the / Tank. In 1915 Churchill / urged on the production / of the 'land battleship' that / later broke the impasse / of the Somme, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98802)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, in military uniform, among troops and trenches; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 1915/16 / In the trenches, / Churchill went to war as / Major in the Grenadier / Guards. He soon became / Lt.-Colonel of the 6th / Battalion Royal Scots / Fusiliers, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98803)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello, Ferdinand Foch

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, seated, among military officials, watching a procession of troops; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / October 1918 / With Marshal Foch / watching the march past / of the 47th Division / at the liberation / of Lille, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98804)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, sat at desk with pen; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Writing at Chartwell / Churchill produced a / succession of great works / including 'The Duke of / Marlborough' which won / him the Nobel Prize for / Literature in 1953, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98805)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, from behind, under parasol, with paintbrushes overlooking a landscape; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Churchill the artist / started painting at the / age of forty / . . . 'for those who start / painting late in life . . . / the first quality / needed is audacity', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98806)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, facing, at the dispatch box in the House of Commons; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / World War II / Prime Minister / Churchill rallies the / nation. 'I have nothing / to offer but blood, / toil, tears and / sweat . . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98807)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, at airfield, among airforce and aeroplanes; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Battle / of Britain / 'Never in the field of / human conflict was / so much owed / by so many / to so few. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98808)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, among rubble and aeroplanes; St Paul's Cathedral in the background; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Blitz / 'What Hitler has done / is to kindle a fire in / British hearts . . . which will / glow long after all traces / of the conflagration . . . / have been removed', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98809)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

NAC / CBS / NEC / CBS / Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, in suit and bow tie, gesturing in front of microphones; behind, flags of the United States and United Kingdom; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 26th December 1941 / Churchill addresses the / U.S. Congress after Pearl / Harbour. . . 'now that we / are united we will walk / together in majesty, / justice and peace', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98810)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, in boat, smoking cigar, overlooking landings on D-Day; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / D-Day / 6th June 1944 / '. . .the first of a series / of landings in force / upon the European / continent has taken / place. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98811)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, view of Sir Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, seated; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / Yalta / February 1945 / Churchill, Roosevelt / and Stalin at the / historic meeting / to plan post-war / Europe, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98812)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, addressing crowds from balcony, making '"V" for Victory' sign; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / VE-Day, / 8th May 1945 / 'God bless you all. / This is your victory / . . . in all our long / history we have never / seen a greater day / than this. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98813)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, speaking and gesturing to applause; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / The Hague 1948 / At the Congress / of Europe / Churchill speaks of / his vision of / European Unity, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98814)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Sir Winston Churchill, in robes of the Order of the Garter, among guards; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 14th June 1953 / Winston Churchill / Knight of the Order / of the Garter / at St George's Chapel / Windsor Castle, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98815)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, Randolph and Winston Churchill Jr. accepting a certificate from John F. Kennedy; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / United States 1963 / Randolph and the / young Winston / receive Sir Winston's / honorary citizenship / of the U.S.A. from / President Kennedy, inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

British commemorative medallion - centenary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill (HCR98816)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Michael Rizzello

Mint

John Pinches (Medallists) Ltd., London (Modern)

Dating

1973-1974

Obverse

Rizzello, view of funerary cortège processing through Whitehall, London; Elizabeth Tower in the background; artist's signature

Reverse

HONI·SOIT·QUI MAL·Y·PENSE / 1965 / Funeral Cortège / Sir Winston died / on 24th January. / 'He was an indefatigable / champion of freedom, / independence / and peace. . .', inscription; quotation from letters/diaries/speeches; crest of the Order of the Garter, around; crowned lion with sword, left

American commemorative medal - Truman presidency (HCR98945)

Period

Modern

Person

Sir Winston Churchill, Harry S Truman

Mint

The Franklin Mint, Exton, PA, U.S.A. (Modern)

Dating

1973

Obverse

HARRY S TRUMAN / 33rd PRESIDENT OF THE / UNITED STATES / 1884 - 1972, bust of Harry S Truman, bespectacled, right

Reverse

"You, / more than / any other / man, have / saved / Western / civilization" / WINSTON S. / CHURCHILL, full-length portraits of Sir Winston Churchill and Harry S Truman, walking arm-in-arm, left; quotation from Truman to Churchill