1975 Waterloo Medal

The Waterloo Medal in Silver by Benedetto Pistrucci, Issued by The Waterloo Committee in 1975 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the battle. The medal is formed in two halves, as per the original design. The medal is cased in its original walnut frame.

This is a framed reproduction of the full-sized medal in silver, taken from the original dies, made by the authority of the Waterloo Committee in 1975. The Waterloo medal was commissioned in 1815 by the Duke of Wellington to mark the end of the Napoleonic wars, but was never produced, due to its large dimensions and the complexity of the design. It took 30 years to finalize the dies needed to make it and by the time Pistrucci had completed the work, all the sovereigns of Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia and the Generals who had been due to receive the medal had died (only the Duke of Wellington remained alive). In 2015 Britain belatedly honoured the nations who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo with these huge commemorative silver medals. Ambassadors from Austria, Russia and Germany were given the medal at a ceremony at Apsley House, Wellington's London home at Hyde Park Corner.

The obverse alludes to the Treaty of Peace which resulted from the Battle of Waterloo. The busts depicted are of the four allied sovereigns; Prince Regent (later George IV), Francis II of Austria, Alexander I of Russia and Frederick William III of Prussia. Mythical figures, among them Apollo and Themis, decorate the circumference.

The reverse shows two classical equestrian figures representing the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Von Blucher, the Prussian leader. Between them is a representation of flying victory and above is the figure of Jupiter. Figures representing the Battle of the Giants form a border to the circumference. The nineteen figures tumbling from their assault on heaven, represent the enemy and the nineteen years duration of the Napoleonic Wars.

This is number 227 of a limited edition of 1000 pieces.

The hallmarks are only visible on one medal and are extremely small. It is hallmarked for London 1975 by the Library of Inperial History.