Article
2 November 2022
RARE GOLDEN GLORY OF THE NILE COMES TO AUCTION
The Battle of the Nile, or Aboukir Bay as it is also known, is widely considered one of the most decisive naval victories in the age of sail. It had far-reaching political, cultural and military consequences, from the control of the Mediterranean to the onset of war between several European powers and France.
It also made a hero of Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson, who appointed Alexander Davison as sole prize agent for the captured French ships. Davison, in turn, marked the victory by striking a medal to present to all English combatants who took part in the action.
The copper versions awarded to ordinary seamen and marines appear regularly on the market, gilt examples for Petty Officers less so, and silver versions for Lieutenants and Warrant Officers scarcely.
Rarest of all, however, are those in gold, awarded to Nelson and his captains, and it is one of these that will appear as a highlight in this sale on 9 November.
As can be seen here, the obverse of the medal shows Peace standing on a rock near the sea holding in her right an olive branch and supporting with her left hand a medallion of Nelson, an anchor behind her. The legend reads: REAR-ADMIRAL LORD NELSON OF THE NILE, with the medallion inscribed: EUROPE'S HOPE AND BRITAIN'S GLORY. The obverse is also inscribed C.H.K. (for C.H. Küchler, who worked for the Soho Mint in Birmingham).
The reverse depicts a View of Aboukir Bay, with the English Fleet going into action and the French at anchor. It bears the legend: ALMIGHTY GOD HAS BLESSED HIS MAJESTY'S ARMS, with the exergue: VICTORY OF THE NILE AUGUST 1 1798. It is also inscribed for the medallist C .H. KUCHLER.
Completing the identification is the inscription around the edge: FROM ALEXR DAVISON, ESQR. ST. JAMES' SQUARE A TRIBUTE OF REGARD.
The medal is being sold with its original Spink Invoice for £200, dated 20 June 1965, with attached ‘duty paid’ receipt for payment, dated 7/7/65, and accompanying letter from David Spink; together with another signed letter from David Spink offering various Naval Gold Medals, also dated 20 June 1965.
“This is an exceptional award for an exceptional action that has echoed down the centuries and stands today as one of the most defining battles of a long campaign that changed the course of European history,” says Oliver Pepys, Associate Director and Medal Specialist at Noonans.
The estimate is £12,000-16,000.
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