Description

George II. 1727-1760. Silver Medal 1746, 55.51 g. Battle of Culloden. By R. Yeo. Bust, armoured. GULIELMUS . GEOR . II . R . FIL . DUX . CUMBRIÆ. Rv. Britannia seated, is assisted by the Duke, as Hercules, who tramples upon Discord. In exergue: PERDVELLIB . EX . ANG . FVGAT AD . CULLOD . DEBELLAT 16 . APR . 1746. Plain edge. 50.8 mm. Eimer 604. MI ii 613/278. Fast FDC / About Mint State. Prachtvolle Erhaltung mit herrlicher Patina / Beautiful condition with magnificent patina.

From the auction Peus 311, Frankfurt a. M., November 1984, lot 2675.

The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby ending the Jacobite rising of 1745. It was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of the British Army was fighting in mainland Europe. It proved to be the last in a series of revolts that began in March 1689, with major outbreaks in 1715 and 1719.

This is the finest of the Culloden medals. It was executed by Richard Yeo, afterwards the chief engraver of the Mint. The type of the reverse was probably suggested by Roman coins. Specimens in silver were sold at a guinea each, and in copper at half a guinea.