Description

George III. 1760-1820. Gold Medal 1768 (awarded 1810), 91.75 g. Cambridge University, George III Chancellor's Prize Medal. By J. Kirk and T. Wyon. Bust, laureate, armoured and draped. GEORGIVS III PIVS FELIX PATER PATRIAE. Rv. Apollo crowns a classically draped student with a wreath. In exergue: AUSP : CELS : PRINC : GUL : FRED : DUC : DE : GLOUCESTER : ACAD : CANTAB : CANCELL :.. Edge: THOMAS HENRY STEEL B . A TRIN : COLL :. 53.4 mm. Eimer -. BHM 112. Sehr selten / Very rare. Vorzüglich-FDC / About Uncirculated. Im Originaletui / In original box.

From the auction Künker 186, Osnabrück, March 2011, lot 7720.

The obverse of the medal had been used on the medal of his predecessor (BHM 112), the Duke of Grafton (1735-1811), who was Chancellor from 1768. This later piece was struck under his successor c. 1811 and utilizing an updated reverse design.

The recipient, Thomas (Tom) Steele, engineer and political activist, was born on 3 November 1788, at Derrymore, County Clare, the son of William Steele, gentleman, and Catherine Steele (née Bridgeman). In July 1805, Steele enters Trinity College Dublin, graduating BA in the spring of 1810.