3013 - GERMAN COINS AND MEDALS UP TO 1871. BRANDENBURG / PRUSSIA. Frederick William III, 1797–1840. Bronze medallion, undated (circa 1850), by B. Pistrucci. Commemorating the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, and the final victory of the Allied forces over Napoleon.

GERMAN COINS AND MEDALS UP TO 1871. BRANDENBURG / PRUSSIA. Frederick William III, 1797–1840. Bronze medallion, undated (circa 1850), by B. Pistrucci. Commemorating the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, and the final victory of the Allied forces over Napoleon. 1) Tiered, classical-style busts of George III of England, Francis I of Austria, Alexander I of Russia, and Frederick William III of Prussia facing left; surrounding them are depictions from ancient mythology: Helios, Iris, and Zephyrus; Heracles; the Erinyes; Luna; the three Fates; Themis; and two Dioscuri 2) The generals Blücher and Wellington, depicted as ancient warriors, ride to the left and protect Victoria; above, Zeus, father of the gods, in a quadriga; surrounding them, the battle of the Titans and Giants. Each approx. 133 mm. Forrer IV, pp. 594–595. Julius Collection, see 3368 (shown there with reverse); Bramsen, see 2317. RR! Two single-sided electrotyped impressions of the obverse and reverse. Excellent—uncirculated luster. Provenance: Ex. Sonntag A30 (2019), Lot 740. The Waterloo medallion is undoubtedly the masterpiece of the talented Italian medallist and gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, who worked as a die cutter at the Royal Mint in London. Work on the dies for this piece—unique not only in its size but also in the abundance of figures depicted—spanned more than 30 years. The Royal Mint had originally planned to present one gold copy each to the four Allied leaders depicted, and one silver copy each to the other princes who participated in the victory at Waterloo. However, in 1850, the decision was made to forgo the expensive production of dies and instead settle for the production of a small number of electrotyped impressions.