{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O251736"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O251736/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O251736","accessionNumber":"7783-1862","objectType":"Medallion","titles":[{"title":"Waterloo Medallion","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The Waterloo Medallion is made by Pistrucci and is considered to be his masterpiece.\r\nIt took him more than 30 years to complete. The Duke of Wellington suggested that a medal should be struck to commemorate this important battle. Among other proposed designs Pistrucci's was selected.  The story of the Battle of Waterloo is told through Pistrucci’s detailed and elaborate imagery. There is not a single legend used.\r\n\r\nOn the reverse of the medal are the leaders of the battle the Duke of Wellington and his ally the Prussian commander Gerhard von Blücher, represented as two horsemen. They are accompanied by Nike, the goddess of victory. Above is the chariot of Zeus and below are 12 figures with serpent legs, representing the 12 years of battle against Napoleon.\r\n\r\nOn the obverse (see: 7782-1862) the design would show the busts of the Prince Regent George of Britain (later King George IV), Emperor Franz I of Austria, Emperor Alexander I of Russia, and Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III, facing left. Around are allegorical scenes representing peace, peace which came out of the battle.\r\nTo the left is the constellation of Gemini referring to the month June when the battle took place. Left and right are the figures of Justice (Themis) and Might (Hercules). Hercules sits upon a rock above a cavern. Below Justice (Themis) are the godesses of destiny (the Fates) and below Hercules the godesses of vengeance (the Furies). Between them and at the bottom is the chariot of the goddess of Night (the mother of the Fates).","physicalDescription":"This is the bronze electrotype of the design for the reverse of the 'Waterloo Medallion' and depicts the leaders of the battle the Duke of Wellington and his ally the Prussian commander Gerhard von Blücher, represented as two horsemen. They are accompanied by Nike, the goddess of victory. Above is the chariot of Zeus and below are 12 figures with serpent legs, representing the 12 years of battle against Napoleon.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Pistrucci, Benedetto","id":"A6506"},"association":{"text":"medallist","id":"AAT25337"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"electrotype","id":"AAT234668"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze electrotype of design","categories":[{"text":"Coins & Medals","id":"THES48974"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"},{"text":"Medallions","id":"THES49034"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"042","id":"THES395557"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Medallion","id":""}],[{"text":"Electrotype","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1817-1850","earliest":"1817-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"7782-1862","id":"O251737"},"association":"Part"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"13.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Medallion, bronze electrotype of design for the reverse of the 'Waterloo Medallion', by Benedetto Pistrucci, British, 1817-50.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beulah, G.K., 'Pistrucci's Great Waterloo Medal', <u>The Medal</u>, no. 7, winter 1985, pp.12-14"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Wellington, Arthur Wellesley (Duke of)","id":"N767"},{"text":"Blücher, Gerhard. L. von","id":"N7820"},{"text":"Nike","id":"N219"},{"text":"Zeus","id":"N115"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"horsemen","id":"x44924"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["7783-1862"],"accessionNumberNum":"7783","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1862,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-18","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}