Summary

Bronze Trafalgar Medal (Boulton's) featuring Lord Nelson, Great Britain, 1805.

Boulton's medal was one of two unofficial medals struck following Lord Nelson's death at Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. One of these medals, in the appropriate metal (copper for officers and pewter for the seamen) was presented by Boulton, with the permission of the Admiralty, to every man who took part in the engagement.
From: http://gateway.uvic.ca/spcoll/nelson/medals.html

Physical Description

A round copper medal featuring on the obverse a bust of Lord Nelson facing left in naval uniform; around, HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K· B· DUKE OF BRONTE. &; on truncation C H K (The engraver's initials). The reverse depicts a scene from the naval battle; around, ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY; in exergue: TRAFALGAR OCTR. 21. 1805. The edge is impressed, TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M: BOULTON.

Obverse Description

Bust of Lord Nelson facing left in naval uniform; around, HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K· B· DUKE OF BRONTE. &; on truncation C H K (The engraver's initials).

Reverse Description

A scene from the naval battle; around, ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY; in exergue: TRAFALGAR OCTR. 21. 1805.

Edge Description

Impressed, TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M: BOULTON.

Significance

On October 21, 1805, the French Vice-Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve attempted to break out of the British blockade of Cadiz with a combined fleet of 33 ships (18 French and 15 Spanish ships of the line). The British fleet of 27 ships, led by Vice-Admiral Nelson in his flag ship Victory, engaged the enemy off Cape Trafalgar just after noon. Shortly before the battle Nelson had the signal flags aboard Victory raised to display the now famous message "England expects that every man will do his duty." The British attacked in two divisions. Vice-Admiral Collingwood in Royal Sovereign led one division to the rear of the Franco-Spanish line and pounded the ships into submission. Soon after,Victory broke through the middle of the enemy line and destroyed the French flagship Bucentaure with a single broadside. Behind Nelson, more British ships penetrated the gap he had opened and attacked the middle line enemy vessels. Cut off and without direction the Franco-Spanish ships engaged in a number of duels with the highly motivated British fleet. While Victory was engaged at close quarters with the French Redoutable, French riflemen in the riggings swept the deck of the British ship with small arms fire. Nelson was a casualty of this onslaught. http://gateway.uvic.ca/spcoll/nelson/medals.html

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