1805 Battle of Trafalgar, Great Britain
BHM 591


20mm Link

The Battle of Trafalgar sealed Napoleon's fate though it certainly didn't seem so at the time. In fact it was the only good news in a year of increasingly bad news for Great Britain. Nelson fell at the moment of total victory; Britain robbed of her greatest hero, and only in later years did the dour and relatively boring Wellington capture the public's imagination. In fact the French continued to build ships of the line for the rest of the wars and Britain never felt safe from invasion. But the shock of Trafalgar robbed the French Navy of the will to face the British Navy in major conflict again.

This medal is part of a four medal set issued shortly after the battle. Originally they were sold in a small silver box and were issued in brass, pewter and silver. All four medals are individually at least rare and the silver box is so rare that I've never seen one for sale.

A second example:

1805 Notaires de Lyon, France
Bramsen 498
Edwards 159
d'Essling 1949


33mm Link

The two women are Justice and Law.


33mm Link

Copper gilt.

1805 Entrevue des Deux Empereurs, France.
Bramsen 452
Edwards 139
Laskey LXI
d'Essling 1108
Milan 513


41mm Link

The battle of Austerlitz was Napoleon's finest victory. After the battle the Russian Army retreated and left the Austrians to Napoleon's mercy. The Emperor Francis II sent a messenger to ask for an armistice and a personal meeting with Napoleon. This medal commemorates the meeting with Napoleon in martial dress and the Emperor Francis approaches in civilian attire.

A second example:


41mm Link

Though it may seem like it both of these examples are relatively rare. The obverse is from a die by Droz that lasted only a few months before breaking. It is distinctive in that it features a beaded edge and the replacement die by Andrieu did not.

1805 Prise de Vienne et de Presbourg, France.
Bramsen 443
Laskey LVII
d'Essling 1101


40mm Link

As Napoleon approached Vienna in 1805 the Austrian Army abandoned its capital and the major city of Presbourg (Bratislava). The two cities are represented by the kneeling women before Napoleon in the guise of Hercules.

1805 Couronnement à Milan, France
Bramsen 418
Laskey XLIX
d'Essling 1072


40mm Link

The various republics of Northern Italy sent deputations to Paris to ask Napoleon to become their king. The amazing thing is the amount of coordination it took on the part of Napoleon and his staff to get all those folks to have the same thought in an age without cell phones...

1805 Conquest of Austria, France
Bramsen 444
d'Essling 1102


43mm Link

This is one of my top five favorite medals. It was issued after the destruction of the Austrian army and reminds me of the entrance way at the Peace Monument on the Pratzen Heights on the battlefield of Austerlitz:

Spectacular medal. So are many of the others, but that crown really captures and holds my attention. Its a wonderful piece of work.

1805 Le Tombeau de Desaix, France
Bramsen 426/427
d'Essling 1079


26mm Link

Five years after his death Napoleon was still thinking of his friend Desaix. This is one of three medals; this one being a mule of the other two medals' reverses.

1805 Le Tombeau de Desaix, France
Bramsen 426
d'Essling 1077
Laskey L


26mm Link

1805 Allocution sur le pont du Lech, France
Bramsen 432
Laskey LV
Edwards 126
d'Essling 1083
Milan 494


40mm Link

Edwards has this to say about this medal:
"The Emperor was upon the bridge of the Lech, when he made one of the corps of the army to file off. He caused each regiment to form in circle, and spoke to them of the situation of the enemy, of the immediate prospect of a great battle, and of the confidence he had in them. This address took place during frightful weather; much snow fell, the troops were up to the knees in mire, and were exposed to severe cold; but the Emperor's words were of fire, says the Fifth Bulletin of the Grand Army; while listening to him, the soldier forgot his fatigues and his privations, and longed with impatient ardour for the arrival of the hour of combat."

This was part of the art of drama of which Napoleon was a master.

1805 Paix de Presbourg, France
Bramsen 455
Laskey LXIII
d'Essling 1105


40mm Link

After the battle of Austerlitz the Austrians sued for peace and soon signed the Peace of Presbourg. The treaty dismantled the ancient Holy Roman Empire. One result was that Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire restyled himself Francis I of the Austrian Empire.

50 Years of Marriage, German States


35mm Link

Life goes on even in the midst of war. All of Europe marched through the German States and this couple celebrated their 50th anniversary.

1805 La Ligurie Réunie a la France, France
Bramsen 422
Laskey LII
d'Essling 1075


40mm Link

Laskey said this medal was because:
"The people of Genoa having imbibed the principles of democratical liberty, and tumults having arisen between them and the adherents of the old government, and they not being able to stem the torrent, sent deputies to Bonaparte at Montebello, where a convention was concluded on the 6th June, 1805, by which the government of the Genoese republic acknowledged the sovereignty to reside in the body of the citizens of its territory. The legislative power was entrusted to two representative councils. Municipalities were established in the communes and districts, on the model of France, and a committee was charged with framing a constitution, and all the laws of the Republic, with a reserve of doing nothing contrary to the Catholic religion. The provisional government was to extinguish faction, grant a general amnesty, and unite the people in rallying round the public liberty. France agreed to give her protection, and even the assistance of its armies, to facilitate if necessary the execution of these articles, and maintain the integrity of the territory of the Republic. This new modelled affair was named, "The Ligurian Republic."

It is possible the prow of the ship alludes to the maritime port of Leghorn, it being the chief harbour of the republic."

1805 Death of Lord Nelson, Great Britain.
BHM 581
Bramsen 439


38mm Link

Nelson medals are fairly tough to acquire. This one would have been in much better shape had someone not apparently tried to mill it's reverse. I'm sure that's not what really happened but there are circular markings (damage) that appear to be machine made.

Nelson probably died as happy as one can, considering he was dying. He knew before he went that he had accomplished one of the most complete naval victories of all time. Ultimately he insured that Great Britain and her allies would prevail over Napoleon.

1805 Paix de Presbourg, German States
Bramsen 459
Edwards 144
d'Essling 1113


31mm Link

A scarce German language jeton, by the Lauer workshop. There are only a few jetons and medals that refer to Napoleon as Kaiser and this is one of them. The color difference you see between the two sides is actually on the jeton.

You really do have an enviable collection of the Napoleonic era. It's not just the pieces that you have gathered that are worthy of salutation, but also the tremendous knowledge of the life and times of the key players involved. Your particular numismatic quest certainly strikes me as having been a true labour of love. Thanks for sharing the results of it here with us.

Thanks Ian, and Art as well. I have looked longingly on your collections and then reminded myself that I really don't need to collect everything; if I wait long enough you guys will do it and I'll see it here at CP!

1805 Conquete de Venice, France
Laskey LXV
Bramsen 460
d'Essling 1115


40mm Link

The Venetian Republic was a pawn in Napoleon's negotiations at this time. Eventually the Venetians had had enough and revolted against what was going on in their country. Napoleon crushed the revolution.


40mm Link

This is probably a later casting from an original. If it is original it's been badly damaged by a cleaning. There is no trace of the Paris patina on it and there's no indication this medal was ever struck anywhere besides Paris. What it does show however is the 1806 Droz head on the obverse. This obverse, characterized by the beaded ring, was notoriously fragile and the mint withdrew the remaining dies in 1807 and began striking medals anew in late 1807-1808 with the Andrieu obverse of the first example. The Andrieu obverse was used, with some variations, throughout the rest of the wars. Another obverse by Depaulis was introduced in 1814 and is the so-called "military" bust. Many of the Droz obverses were stolen in 1814 and used in Great Britain to strike medals. Strangely enough some unknown engraver there altered the dies and made the "Z" in Droz noticeably larger than the other letters.

1805 Reprise des Drapeaux à Inspruck, France.
Bramsen 442
Laskey LVIII
d'Essling 1099


40mm Link

Flags were an integral part of war during this period. In addition to practical function such as providing a rallying point in smoke-filled battlefields in an age without radio, they represented the honor of the fighting unit itself. Because of this to be the flag-bearer was a great honor in itself and these men would die before giving up their flag to an enemy. Flags were fiercely fought over and brought rewards to the man or men who captured them. Napoleon would replace the symbol of honor with his eagles. French regiments often left the flags at home and marched strictly with their eagles. For all the fighting from 1804-1815 only a handful of eagles were ever captured.

In 1805 Napoleon removed French flags that were stored in various Austrian cities' cathedrals or city halls and sent them back to Paris. It was part of the mentality of the time that that would "cleanse" them, even though they were usually then destroyed.

1805 Paix de Presbourg, France
Bramsen 458
Edwards 143


28mm Link

These slightly larger jetons from the Lauer and other workshops are always interesting. They're sort of on the edge of jeton and a bit small, considering the metal, for a medal. The reverse on this was used on three variants and the general on horseback with a paper (presumeably a treaty) is common throughout the period on German jetons.

Of the jeton itself Edwards commented:
"It is by mistake that this piece bears the date of the 11th December; it was on the 26th that the treaty of peace between France and Austria was signed at Presburg. The negotiations were opened on the 9th at Brunn, between M. de Talleyrand and Prince John of Lichenstein."

1805 Sir Sydney Smith, Promotion to Flag Rank, Great Britain.
BHM 573
Bramsen 2199
d'Essling 2961


54mm Link

Sir Sydney Smith was an eccentric in a Navy that seldom rewarded that trait. But he was a successful one and that made all the difference. He was responsible in large part to one of Napoleon's first reverses. Because of his support of the Ottoman defenders of Acre Napoleon failed in his attempt to conquer Syria and the Palestine and was forced to retreat to Egypt. Acre is remembered as one of Richard the Lion-heart's first successes, hence the reverse "Heart of the Lion" in French.

1805 Napoleon Crowned King of Italy, France
Bramsen 420
Edwards 105
d'Essling 1073
Milan 467-474


41mm Link

Originally engraved in Italy the dies were later taken to Paris. This is a Parisian strike.
And the following one is a Milan strike.


41mm Link

The color is fairly clear between the two. Paris strikes had an artificial brown patina unavailable to any of the other Imperial mints.

1805 Loge des Arts et l'Amitie à Louviers, France
Bramsen 508
Marvin XXIX
Edwards 171


28mm Link

A Masonic medal so rare I had only seen one once, listed in a sales catalog. When I carefully compared the catalog to my medal I realized they were the same one!