CNG 85, Lot: 1614. Estimate $200. Sold for $430. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HANOVER. Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. 1769-1852. Æ Medal (60mm, 130.32 g, 12h). Duke of Wellington. By B. Pistrucci. Dated 1841. FIELD MARSHAL ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON, bare head left; PISTRUCCI below / NOVA CANTAMVS TROPÆA, crested Corinthian helmet right, decorated with various mythological scenes: upper half, soldier advancing right, carrying off fellow soldier; Hercules advancing right, holding club and wearing lion skin, being led by Athena to right; lower half, lion crouching left; soldier astride seahorse right, holding trophy; thunderbolt below, PISTRUCCI to lower left; AVGVST. 1841 in exergue. BHM 2011; Eimer 1353. AU, rich chocolate brown surfaces. Exceptional style. Original box included.

From a California Collection of British Historical Medals.

The meaning of the imagery depicted upon the helmet of this medal remains a mystery. A possible explanation would be that the helmet is in fact that which is worn by Britannia herself, with ornamentation representing Britain’s history along with more recent military exploits (nova cantamus tropæa). On the bottom half, both the lion and the soldier astride the seahorse are emblematic of Britain, as the former is the national symbol, whereas the latter may well refer to British dominion of the seas. On the upper half, British aid to wounded Europe during the Napoleonic Wars may be represented by the two soldiers, while Athena guiding Hercules may symbolize the defeat of Napoleon as a Herculean effort by the allies.