Arrival of the English army in the Peninsular - 1808

Side 1: ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
Below: Signature of Brenet and MUDIE D.

Side 2: THE ENGLISH ARMY ARRIVES IN THE PENINSULA.. In ex.: MDCCCVIII
Bramsen 742, British Historical Medals 635, Julius 1918 - Mudie Series 12 (1820)
Mm. 41
Engravers: Brenet & J. Mudie

Bramsen - 742 (Brenet et J. Mudie) Wellington débarque en Portugal. (Description)
ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Tête, à droite.
Rev: THE ENGLISH ARMY ARRIVES IN THE PENINSULA. Deux femmes, représentant l'Espagne et le Portugal, fuient l'aigle français et implorent l'assistance de la flotte anglaise, dont on voit un bâtiment au pavillon britannique. Dans le fond, une montagne et les colonnes d'Hercule. Exergue: MDCCCVIII
Médaille, 40 mm. - T. N. 26, 10.

British Historical Medals - 635 - ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH ARMY IN THE PENINSULAR
AR, AE 41 by N. G. A. Brenet & J. Mudie.
Obv. Bare head of the Duke of Wellington, right. ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
Rev. Allegorical figures of Spain and Portugal being attacked by the French eagle, imploring aid from Britain. THE ENGLISH ARMY ARRIVES IN THE PENINSULAR. In exergue: MDCCCVIII.
AR R; AE N.
M . 12.
AM; HC.
The Spanish people having risen against their French masters, Napoleon brought an army of 16,000 men into Spain in 1809. Canning, however, had anticipated this action and in July 1808 landed a force of 30,000 men commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley on the Mondego river north of Lisbon.
One of Mudie's series of National Medals (see No. 1057) issued in 1820. Examples of this medal are believed to have been struck in gold but no specimen has been met with.
There is a mule of the obverse of this piece with the obverse of No. 595 in the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Mudie Series n. XII - Arrival of the English army in the Peninsula - Description of the medal

...OBVERSE. - Head of the Duke, in imitation of the antique; inscription "ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON."
...REVERSE. - An allegorical display of the arrival of the British army in the Peninsula, to assist it against the French, whose military power and success in that country are pourtrayed by the eagle with the fulmen on thunder-bolt pursuing the armed force of Spain and Portugal, who are personated by two females imploring British aid. Round the face of the Medal is inscribed, "THE ENGLISH ARMY ARRIVES IN THE PENINSULA." On the exergue, or small division of the Medal, parted off from the subject, is the date of the arrival. In the back ground are the mountains peculiar to the country, which are also represented by the pillars of Hercules, the ancient emblems of the Peninsula.

 

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