Waterloo Medal (Pistrucci)

Benedetto Pistrucci worked on the medal from 1819 to 1849. The medal was commissioned by the British Government in 1819. It was to be presented to the generals who had been victorious in the 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Most of the intended recipients had died by 1849, and relations with France had improved. The medals were never struck, though modern-day editions have been made for sale to collectors.

About Waterloo Medal (Pistrucci) in brief

Benedetto Pistrucci worked on the medal from 1819 to 1849. The medal was commissioned by the British Government in 1819. It was to be presented to the generals who had been victorious in the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, and to the leaders of Britain’s allies. Most of the intended recipients had died by 1849, and relations with France had improved. The medals were never struck, though modern-day editions have been made for sale to collectors. The centre of the obverse depicts the four allied rulers: George, Francis I of Austria, Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Frederick William III of Prussia. Aside from the allegorical profile, both sides of the medal are seen in profile, with both sides grouped before and after the figure of the King. The design was by the Italian-born sculptor Benedetto pistrucci, who was the Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint. He fell from grace at the Mint in 1823 by refusing to copy another’s work for the coinage, and he was instructed to concentrate on the Medal. He likely concluded that he would be sacked if he completed it, and progress was extremely slow. Due to their great size, 5. 3 inches in diameter, the Mint was unwilling to risk damaging the matrices by hardening them, and only electrotypes and soft impressions were taken.

In 1844, the Master, W. E. Gladstone, reached an accord with Pistrucci and the medal matrices were eventually submitted in 1849; the medal has been greatly praised by numismatic writers. The Royal Academy was taxed with recommending a design for the gold medal; they selected a sketch by Sir John Flaxman, but no action was immediately taken. The Prince Regent and William Wellesley-Pole, Master of the Mint, were impressed by Pistruucci’s models. In August 1819, Pole received instructions from the Treasury to employ Pistrulli to produce the medal. The fee was £400, to be paid in instalments. In early 1816, it was decided that officers and soldiers alike would receive their medal in silver, and it was produced in large numbers by the Royal mint for the military. The Duke of Wellington proposed to Frederick, Duke of York that bronze medals bePresented to the British soldiers at Waterloo, silver to their officers and gold to the sovereigns of the victorious nations, and their generals and ministers. Other nations to be honoured would receive the medal in bronze. The designs were to be used for the heads of state and in silver to the victorious generals, and others to be honoured for their services to the war.

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