Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805)

Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805), Matthew Boulton's Trafalgar Medal, 1805, the original obverse and reverse dies, by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, obv: uniformed bust of Nelson, HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. &c, rev: view of the naval engagement, ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY, exergue: TRAFALGAR. OCT. 21. 1805; the reverse die with deep alignment cut on edge, 55 x 68mm, 57 x 71mm (BHM.584; Milford Haven 1919, 496; Eimer 960; Pollard, NC 1970, 30). Good fine, actual medal surface showing rust damage. (2)

There were three attempts to obtain a life-like portrait of Nelson, the Nelson family and Lady Hamilton both rejected the first, taken from a drawing by Lady Beechey. Lady Hamilton then provided a miniature and Boulton's friend J. Furnell Tuffin provided a drawing by Simon de Koster, but again this was rejected. Lady Hamilton then provided a wax portrait by Catherine Andras (1775-1860), which she believed to be "the most striking likeness". The reverse battle-scene was designed by the marine artist Richard Clevely, who took it "at the time the Royal Sovereign is going into action partly enveloped in smoke …". The medal was finally completed in October 1806 and the King was presented with a specimen at breakfast on the 24th.