Great Britain: Abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte (Mule from Two Treaty of Amiens Medals)
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Form:
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Circular
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By:
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After Henry Kettle (obv) and J.G. Hancock (rev) |
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Date:
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1814 |
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Ref:
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BHM: 798; Laidlaw: 0565j;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 38.4 mm | Gilded White Metal | 19.3 gm | $90 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Figure of Peace standing on a quay, body front and head turned to the right, olive branch in her right hand and a spilling cornucopia cradled under her left arm. Two ships at sea to the right. A ship at anchor and trade goods on the left. Legend: “THEY SHALL PROSPER THAT LOVE THEE”. Ears of wheat in the exergue.
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Reverse:
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On the left, Britannia seated with her back on a tree trunk and branch above holding a crown and shield bearing head of King George III on her lap, her right hand supporting the British Union shield and trident. Hanoverian arms on shield hanging for a sword hilt behind tree. On the ground, lion with lamb and sheath of wheat. Facing Britannia, a cherub holding a tablet inscribed (partly obscured) : "[BO]NAPARTE [D]ETHRONE (line) [B]OURBONS [R]ESTORED". To the right man plowing field, distant hills and radiant sun. Legend: “POST NUBILA PHOEBUS (sunshine after clouds)”. In the exergue: “MDCCCXIV”.
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Notes:
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This medal is a satirical mule of two earlier medals concerning the failed treaty of Amiens. The obverse is the reverse of Preliminaries of the Treaty medal (Laidlaw 0561a) with the “TO FRANCE” label on the top of the barrel removed. The reverse is the reverse of Treaty medal Laidlaw 0565b) with the inscription on the tablet altered to tell of Napoleon’s abdication and giving the date 1814.
The two dies are not quite the same size and there is a noticeable ridge running round the edge. The rust on the dies has been removed leaving pit marks which appear as raised spots on this medal.
After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, Napoleon returned to Paris where he abdicated on 22 June. On 8 July the new-restored French King, Louis XVIII, entered Paris. Napoleon attempted to seek refuge in America but was forced to surrender himself to the British on 15 July. He was transported to the Island of St. Helena where he remained in exile until his death in 1821.
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