Soho Mint Medals
formerly in the holdings of the Boulton Family
collection of Bill McKivor, www.thecoppercorner.com
These medals were produced by the Soho Mint and held in the personal collections
of the Boulton family. A sketch of how they came to be in my
collection will be found in the introduction to the Death Medal page, page 1.
As time passed, some medals were duplicated in the collection as more were found
by the family. Those medals were purchased by me and those re-sold or for
sale are listed below.
Photography by Eric Holcomb
click on photos to enlarge
Medals purchased and re-sold, or are for sale. All Boulton family holdings.
Currently FOR SALE
The above medal is one produced by Matthew Robinson Boulton as a commemorative ten years following the death of his father, Matthew Boulton. The pieces with lettered edge and gilt interior to the copper shells were all pieces that were given to family members. Other than the Boultons, only the James Watt family received gilt shell pieces. See the Death medal page. This family owned medal is for sale. $3800, with a letter of provenance. RESERVED. ANOTHER AVAILABLE.
The piece below, with no shells but with the rare lettered edge, is for sale for $1750, SOLD 2007. also with a letter of provenance. It is estimated that 75-100 pieces were prepared with lettered edges. Both medals are in very nice condition. The Copper Corner collection to date owns all of the family owned death medals held by them, and three of the four given to the Watt family. It has been decided to sell a few of them.
Above: 49 mm medal by Kuchler. The piece on the left is pristine, in shells and inscribed paper wrapper, "Last Interview of Louis XVI", with the obverse Louis XVI and Marie Antionette, the reverse showing the king saying goodbye to his family. The medal on the right is the second in the series of three, Marie Antionette on the obverse, and the reverse showing her execution. The second medal is quite damaged from dampness. The "Last Interview" is for sale, with a letter of provenance, for $2200, and the second piece will be included at no extra charge. Both, however, were in the Boulton holdings. SOLD 2008.
Above: A White metal medal---48mm by Kuchler. Bust of Nelson/scene of the battle of Trafalgar. In the original box. This one dampstained, but the surfaces, save a couple small patches, have remained nice. The edges, especially on the reverse, have the tinning off due to the dampness, and the case is usable but obviously dampstained. The edge of the medal reads "To the heroes of Trafalgar from M. Boulton", and was released in 1805 after the battle, and Nelson's death. Boulton put away a few of these, this one given to another family member who did not take good care of it. I have sold a couple of these, in perfect condition (see below) for $5500, this one available with the letter of provenance for $1000. SOLD 2007.
Above: Made for Monneron, in France, 1791. Acceptance of the Constitution of Free France. Obverse: The Constitution of Free France. Reverse, the acceptance of it on 13 September 1791. This piece very rare above Fine, or so I am told by French collectors. Completely uncirculated, but with some roughness in the fields especially due to dampness. 36mm. A very high grade example and nearly unknown as such. Ex Boulton family, sold with a letter of Provenance, at $950. RESERVED.
Above: An unfinished die used to stamp this piece, which in it's finished state reads "Staffordshire Agricultural Society", and Britannia is holding a wreath. this one simply not completed when the trial was struck. About 1806. Some dampstaining. From the Boulton family, with a letter of provenance, $350.
SOLD
Powers of the Soho Mint. 43mm original striking, with original tissue wrap. Obverse, Bust Matthew Boulton. Reverse, a chronological listing of the progress the mint had made over the years. In French, it was struck to refute Droz's claim to having made the improvements to the Soho mint himself. Struck in French. This medal purchased from Boulton agent Tim Millett in October 2002. Sold 2006
Powers of the Soho Mint. 43mm original striking, with original tissue wrap. Obverse, Bust Matthew Boulton. Reverse, a chronological listing of the progress the mint had made over the years. In French, it was struck to refute Droz's claim to having made the improvements to the Soho mint himself. Struck in French. This medal purchased from Boulton agent Tim Millett in 2002 by Allan Davisson. Purchased from Davisson in 2005. Sold 2006
Boulton's Trafalgar Medal. White metal. 48mm, by Kuchler. In soft box of issue. Obverse, Bust of Nelson. Reverse, view of the battle of Trafalgar. "England expects every man to do his duty". The edge is inscribed "To the Heroes of Trafalgar from M. Boulton". Matthew Boulton gave each man who served with Nelson at Trafalgar a copy of this medal. This particular example has been in the Boulton family holdings until I received it in 2003 from Tim Millett. It has had no handling whatsoever in the last 200 years, and is simply above exceptional!! Ex Boulton Family. This one sold 2003. The Boulton family released three of these amazing "as new" white metal Trafalgar medals. Two had "soft" boxes, one had tin shells of a type used in the 1805 period. See next for the only one released with shells.
Boulton's Trafalgar Medal. White metal. 48mm, by Kuchler. Tin presentation shells, of the type used in 1805. Original striking, as are all. Description as above medal. This particular example has been in the Boulton family holdings until I received it in 2005 from Tim Millett. It has had no handling whatsoever in the last 200 years, and is simply above exceptional!! Ex Boulton Family. For sale, in the original tin shells and paper wrap. As new, with letter of provenance from the holdings of Matthew Boulton. Sold, 2007
George III Death Medals. BHM 991. Bronzed copper. By Kuchler. 48mm.
Original strikings, 1820. In presentation shells.
EX: Matthew Robinson Boulton holdings. These are no longer in my
collection. Purchased from Tim Millett, one in 2002, the other in 2003. Sold
2003.
George III Death medal with single shell BHM 991. Bronzed
Copper. By Kuchler, 48mm.
Original Striking, 1820. Ex Boulton Family holdings. Purchased Tim Millett 2004.
Sold 2004.
George III Death medal with two presentation shells. BHM 991. Bronzed Copper. By Kuchler, 48mm. Original Striking, 1820. Ex Boulton Family holdings. Purchased Tim Millett 2002 Sold 2005.
Cayenne Relieved, Bronze 48mm, by Pidgeon, in presentation shells. Obverse: Extremely high relief bust of the Prince Of Portugal. Reverse, (translation) Cayenne Relieved from the French 14 Jan 1809. One of the first places on the Iberian peninsula relieved by the British during the Napoleonic war. Purchased from Tim Millett by Allan Davisson, and purchased from him by private treaty in the fall of 2003. EX: Boulton family holdings. Sold 2004
Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1801, by Kuchler. Copper, 48mm. Bust George III, Britannia and Hibernia greeting. Ex Boulton family holdings, received from Boulton agent Tim Millett in October, 2004. Sold 2005.
Marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales, 1795. Bronzed copper, by
Kuchler. Two medals pictured.
Obverse: Bust of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Reverse: Hymen
standing, bearing the torch and the shields of great Britain and Brunswick, in
front of a city view of London.
Strangely, this medal is dated MDCCXVII (1797) in error. All seen have
this date, however.
In presentation
shells of issue. Most likely Late Soho.
Ex: Both medals are from the Matthew Robinson Boulton holdings. These are no
longer in my collection. Purchased from Tim Millett, one in 2002, the other in
2003. Sold, 2003.
Defeat of Sultan Tippoo. 48mm Bronze, by Kuchler, in presentation shells. Obverse: Cornwallis facing Left, the Reverse Corwallis accompanied by his staff, receiving the sons of Tippoo. Struck to honor Cornwallis as a result of his campaign in India against the sultan of Mysore, Tippoo Sahib. Tippoo ceded half of his kingdom to the British in 1792. Ex: Boulton family holdings. This medal is no longer in my collection. Purchased from Tim Millett in 2002. Sold, 2003.
Lafayette and Rousseau. "Late Soho" strikings, plain edge.
The originals were struck in 1791 for Monneron, in Paris, France, and had a
lettered edge. They were part of Monneron's planned "Great Men of France"
series. 36mm, late Soho, worn dies. Purchased from Tim Millett November 2004.
Sold 2004
EX: Matthew Robinson Boulton holdings.
Count Alexander Suwarow. (or Suvarow) By Kuchler, 48mm, Bronze, in presentation shells. Count Suwarow led the campaign against Napoleon for Italy, for which he was given the title of Prince of Italy by the Czar. ---------------------The Obverse: Bust of Count Suwarow/ Reverse: Suwarow as Mars, standing Left, raising the seated figure of Italy. The legends read Italiae Liberator. MDCCXCIX. Purchased from Boulton agent Tim Millett October, 2004. Ex Boulton family holdings. Sold, 2004
Cayenne Relieved, Bronze 48mm, by Pidgeon, in presentation shells. Obverse: Extremely high relief bust of the Prince Of Portugal. Reverse, (translation) Cayenne Relieved from the French 14 Jan 1809. One of the first places on the Iberian peninsula relieved by the British during the Napoleonic war. Purchased from Boulton agent Tim Millett in October 2004. Ex Boulton family holdings. Sold. 2004.
The Execution of the King of France. Obverse: Busts of King
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The reverse features the king saying farewell to
his family prior to his execution. 48mm, Bronze, by Kuchler. Kuchler
finished the dies on the sixth of July, 1793, and was paid 30 Pounds Sterling
for his efforts by Boulton. Purchased from Boulton agent Tim Millett October
2004.
Ex Boulton family holdings. Sold 2007
Soho mint medals that were not owned by the families but
included in the collection.
The Execution of the King of France. Obverse: Busts of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The reverse features the king saying farewell to his family prior to his execution. Not family owned. Purchased London, 2003. Sold 2006
Earl Howe and the glorious First of June. 1794. 48mm by Kuchler. Bust of Earl Howe facing right, the reverse showing a view of the battle. The ship in the foreground is the Queen Charlotte, sinking a French ship. Presentation shells of issue. Not family owned. Purchased from Michael Finlay 2003. SOLD, 2007.
British Victories, 1798. 48mm by Kuchler. Bust of George III, with the reverse featuring Britannia seated with a pile of trophies and holding aloft a winged victory. Not family owned. Purchased from Tim Millett 2003. Not for sale.
Staffordshire Agricultural Society, 1802. This medal was not family owned, but is a gilt silver example in the shells of issue. It was awarded in 1806. Shortly thereafter the society changed the style of the medals. Purchased from Chris Eimer, 2005, at the London Docklands. Not for sale.
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