Great Exhibition Council Medal

308, Lot: 537. Estimate $150. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HANOVER. Victoria, with Prince Albert. 1837-1901. Æ Medal (89mm, 335.8 g, 12h). Great Exhibition of 1851. Council Medal awarded to Louis-Joseph Deleuil, French optician. Royal mint. By W. Wyon and J. F. Domard, after H. Bonnardel. Dated 1851. VICTORIA D : G : REG : F : D : ALBERTUS PRINCEPS CONJUX, jugate heads of Victoria, laureate, and Albert left; confronted dolphins below, trident behind / EST ETIAM IN MAGNO QUAEDAM RESPUBLICA MUNDO, Britania standing facing before throne, crowning figures of Commerce and Industry, clasping hands; banners and products of commerce and industry behind; MDCCLI in exergue. Edge: COUNCIL MEDAL OF THE EXHIBITION. L. J. DELEUIL. CLASS X. Eimer 1455. VF, brown surfaces, edge dings, numerous peck marks on edge. Very rare – only 174 presented to exhibitors.

Louis-Joseph Deleuil was a successful scientist and inventor who dedicated his life to the production of exact scientific instruments. At the Great Exhibition of 1851, Deleuil was awarded this Council Medal, the highest honor presented by the committee, for his balance air–pump. His work also earned him recognition at home, where the government of France presented him with the cross of the Légione d’honneur.