2015 Duke of Wellington Waterloo Gold Medallion Pre-Owned

This Pre-Owned 2015 Duke of Wellington Waterloo Gold Medallion is a modern interpretation of the 1841 design. The original design was by the renowned engraver Benedetto Pistrucci.

• Manufacturer: London Mint Office
• Fineness: 0.583 fineness / 14 carat gold
• Contains 0.1332 troy ounce of gold
• VAT Exempt
• Mintage: 15,000 medals
• Weight: 7g
• Diameter: 22.50mm

These medallions are supplied loose. Protect your gold investment with a 23mm capsule ensuring your coin remains in great condition.

The Duke of Wellington

Arthur Wellesley, known as the Duke of Wellington, is famous for his outstanding military skill and leadership in the early 1800s. Born in Dublin in 1769, he became one of Britain's top military leaders. His most famous achievement was defeating Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Battle of the Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, was a decisive conflict that ended the Napoleonic Wars. Taking place near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, the battle saw Napoleon Bonaparte's French forces clash with a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Prussian General Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.

After a gruelling day of combat, the coalition forces succeeded in defeating the French, leading to Napoleon's final downfall and exile. This victory not only ended Napoleon's rule but also reshaped the political landscape of Europe.

1816 Waterloo Medal

The Waterloo Medal is a campaign medal awarded to British Army personnel involved in one or more of the following battles: the Battle of Ligny, the Battle of Quatre Bras, and the Battle of Waterloo.

To commemorate Britain's victory at Waterloo, the design of the medal was approved by a vote in the House of Commons. A total of 39,000 medals were produced, with 38,500 of them actually awarded.

Waterloo Medal (1819-1849)

In 1819, four years after the Battle of Waterloo, Italian sculptor Benedetto Pistrucci began working on a Waterloo Medal on behalf of the British government.

However, due to several reasons, including his conflicting opinions with the Royal Mint regarding the medal and his own health issues, the medal's completion was delayed until 1849.

The design of the medal has been praised by numismatists and is regarded as one of the greatest numismatic achievements, cementing Pistrucci's reputation as a great engraver. Many of his iconic designs feature in The Royal Mint's Great Engravers series, including the 2024 St George and the Dragon coins, and the upcoming 2024 Waterloo Medal, a commemoration of Benedetto Pistrucci’s designs for the Waterloo Medal.

Legacy of Benedetto Pistrucci

Born in Rome in 1783, Benedetto Pistrucci ’s early work fashioning medals and cameos soon affirmed his reputation as a talented gem engraver with international repute.

Arriving in London in 1815, the renowned engraver was quick to prove his worth, soon being commissioned by the Master of the Royal Mint, William Wellesley Pole, for a series of new gold and silver coin designs to be released in 1817.  

A new reverse sovereign coin design was introduced featuring Saint George slaying a dragon, designed by the brilliant young Italian engraver. This beautiful classic design remains on our gold sovereigns today, almost two hundred years later, and for most of its life must have been one of the worlds most widely recognised coins.

The obverse features a depiction of the Duke of Wellington facing to the left, designed by Benedetto Pistrucci. Additionally, it bears the following inscription

FIELD MARSHAL ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON

The reverse features a possible depiction of the Lion of England alongside an Roman Numeral inscription which can be translated to the following:

MDCCCXV-XVIII (1815-18)

JUNI-MMXV (June 2015)

WATERLOO