1798 Davidson’s Battle of the Nile Nelson Bronze Medal

A British issue Davidson’s Battle of the Nile Commemorative Medallion in Bronze, designed by Conrad Heinrich Küchler.
On the obverse, it shows Hope standing on a rocky outcrop facing left. She extends an olive branch forward in her right hand and holds an oval medallion in her left which features the Bust of Lord Nelson and ‘EUROPE’S HOPE AND BRITAIN’S GLORY’. Along the edge is ‘REAR-ADMIRAL LORD NELSON OF THE NILE’. On the reverse we see a naval scene of the Battle of Aboukir Bay, with the legend around ‘ALMIGHTY GOD HAS BLESSED HIS MAJESTY’S ARMS’. On the bottom (exergue) is ‘VICTORY OF THE NILE AUGUST 1. 1798’. Finally, along the edge is impressed FROM ALEXr. DAVISON ESQr. St. JAMES SQUARE A TRIBUTE OF REGARD. Apart from some light scratches in the field, the medal is in very fine condition and comes in a collector’s case and box. The medal weighs 40g.

Nelson’s victory at the mouth of the Nile on 1.8.1798 was celebrated in a, then, novel way by his prize agent Alexander Davison. The Battle of the Nile was a major naval victory for the British Royal Navy against the French Republic in the Mediterranean. Led by Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, the British forces successfully halted General Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt. These commemorative medals were given in gold to admirals and captains, silver to officers, gilt bronze to petty officers and bronze to all others.

Size: 47mm (1 13/16 inches)
Size box: 10 x 10 x 3.5 cm (4 x 4 x 1 3/8 inches)
Weight: 189g