Description
GREAT BRITAIN 1813 Surrender of Pamplona, 41mm copper medal 39.65 grams, from 1820 by N.G.A. Brenet and J.P. Droz for the Mudie National Series, (Mudie 25, BHM 765, Eimer 1037, Wellington 30)
Obverse: bust facing right, ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON
Reverse: female figure of Pamplona surrenders her keys to an equestrian soldier in Roman dress, ENGLAND PROTECTS THE TOWN OF POMPEI / CAPITULATION OF PAMPELUNE OCTOBER THE 31 MDCCCXIII D.
James Mudie's series of forty "National Medals" was produced in 1820 and manufactured by Sir Edward Thomason in Birmingham, England. The medals celebrate British triumphs in the Napoleonic wars over the French spanning a 20 year period, from 1797 to 1817. They serve as a counter to the numerous, officially issued French medals glorifying the battles and events of Napoleon's reign. They are the same size, 41 millimeters as the official Napoleonic medals, and most of the dies were produced in France.
Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet (c1770 - 1846) was a French medallist, and pupil of Girod and Gatteaux. From 1808 onward he was employed producing a large quantity of commemorative medals of French historical events that occurred under the Empire, the Restoration and the July Monarchy, and almost surprisingly by John Mudie for his “National Series”.
Jean-Pierre Droz (1746 - 1823) was a coin and medal engraver born in Switzerland and trained in Paris. Droz was most known for engraving the Napoléon coin at the Paris Mint. He was employed by the prominent English manufacturer and business man, Matthew Boulton to improve Boulton's coin and medal quality. However, he worked there for just two years. In 1789, Droz devised a collar used to engrave the sides of coins and ensure a circular shape, and though it was unsuitable for large numbers of coins, it remained in use at the Soho Mint. He was a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
