Almost 200 Years in the Making – Pistrucci’s Waterloo Medal is Finally Presented to the Allied Powers Who Defeated Napoleon

The Allied powers that defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo were presented with the original commemorative Waterloo Medal at a ceremony at Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington. Waterloo 200, the organisation overseeing the 200^th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Waterloo, partnered with The London Mint Office and Worcestershire Medal Service to produce the ‘Pistrucci’ Medal for the first time in its original size. It was commissioned in 1815, designed by renowned engraver Benedetto Pistrucci – but never struck.

Their Excellencies Dr Emil Brix, Austrian Ambassador, Dr Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Ambassador, and Ms Tania Freiin von Uslar-Gleichen, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, each received a Pistrucci Medal on behalf of their country.

Also receiving the Medal were Angela Pistrucci, descendant of the late engraver, the Waterloo Association, the Royal Mint Museum and Lord Douro on behalf of the Duke of Wellington. Her Majesty the Queen will receive the Waterloo Medal at a later date.

His Excellency Mr Guy Trouveroy, Belgian Ambassador, and Mrs Margriet Leemhuis, Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy, each received Waterloo Campaign Medals for the essential roles their nations played in the Battle of Waterloo.

Sir William Wellesley Pole, the first Duke of Wellington’s brother, commissioned Pistrucci to create the Medal 10 days after the Allied victory. It took Pistrucci over 30 years to complete the moulds because of the Medal’s mammoth dimensions (139mm diameter) and the complexity of the design.

By the time the moulds were completed the four Allied sovereigns who were to receive the Medal had died and it was never made.

Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Chairman of Waterloo 200, also announced that 500,000 commemorative bronze Waterloo Campaign Medals will be given free to the UK public as a gift from Waterloo 200, funded by the London Mint Office via www.200waterloo.co.uk.

“The Battle of Waterloo ended over 20 years’ conflict in Europe, impacting thousands of lives by heralding over 50 years of relative peace and stability,” said Tim Cooke, joint Chairman, Director and Trustee of Waterloo 200. “It’s fitting that we can finally commemorate the Allied sovereigns’ military exploits by presenting their countries with the Waterloo Medal in the size Pistrucci originally intended – and to enable so many UK citizens to own a piece of history.”

“I am very pleased to receive this newly minted Waterloo Medal on behalf of my father, the Duke of Wellington”, added Lord Douro. “We remember the bravery of thousands of men from many nations who fought and died in a few hours on the 18th of June 1815. It is very appropriate we do so on Remembrance Day.”

“We’re thrilled to be part of this amazing initiative,” concluded James Deeny, Managing Director of The London Mint Office. “Telling history through coins and medals is at the heart of what we do; I can’t imagine a better example of this than bringing to life Pistrucci’s incredible Waterloo Medal as originally intended by the master engraver.”

Worcestershire Medal Service, Medallist to Her Majesty the Queen, produced the medals on behalf of the London Mint Office, ensuring every detail in Pistrucci’s Medal was faithfully reproduced. Limited editions of the full-size silver Pistrucci Medals and a smaller-sized version (89mm) will be for sale at www.200waterloo.co.uk. A percentage of revenue from the medal sales will be donated to Waterloo 200 to fund its activities.

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Contact information

For Waterloo 200:
Margherita Bartocci, 020 7981 9858
margheritab@loudmouthpr.co.uk
or
For further information/visuals:
http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/london-mint-office
or
About the organisations involved:
http://www.waterloo200.org/
www.londonmintoffice.org
www.worcmedals.com