1813 DUKE OF WELLINGTON MEDALLION

1813 Duke of Wellington Medallion – English Army Pass the Pyrenees

Eimer 1034 BHM 760 Mudie’s National Medals Series
Struck 1820 Bronze XF Condition

This historically significant bronze medallion commemorates one of the most celebrated campaigns of the Peninsular War — the passage of the English Army through the Pyrenees in 1813, under the command of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. It forms part of the prestigious Mudie’s National Medals series, a set of 40 medals struck in 1820 to honour British military and naval victories during the Napoleonic Wars.

The obverse, engraved by Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet, features a finely detailed bare head portrait of the Duke of Wellington, facing right, with the Latin inscription “ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON”. The artist’s signature “Brenet” appears beneath the bust.

The reverse depicts a dramatic allegorical scene of a British lion savaging the French eagle, symbolising the defeat of Napoleon’s forces. The legend reads “THE ENGLISH ARMY PASS THE PYRENEES MDCCCXIII”, with “J. MUDIE” in the exergue, referencing the publisher James Mudie, who commissioned the series.

• Metal: Bronze
• Diameter: 38 mm
• Weight: Approx. 38 grams
• Edge: Plain
• Designer: Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet
• Publisher: James Mudie
• Mint: Thomason’s Manufactory, Birmingham
• Catalogue References: Eimer 1034, BHM 760, Bramsen 1285
• Condition: Extremely Fine (XF) with sharp detail and rich patina
• Price: £150

This medallion commemorates a pivotal moment in the Peninsular War, when Wellington’s forces crossed into France after a series of victories in Spain. The Battle of the Pyrenees (July–August 1813) marked the beginning of the final phase of the war, leading to Napoleon’s eventual abdication.

Highly collectable and steeped in military history, this piece is a must-have for enthusiasts of Napoleonic medals, British military history, or Wellingtoniana. Its inclusion in the Mudie series and its powerful iconography make it a standout item in any collection of early 19th-century commemorative medals.

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