medal
- Museum number
- M.5120
- Description
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Bronze medal. (whole)
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Draped bust of Matthew Boulton, hair in queue, right. (obverse)
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Inscription in five concentric circles arranged around a head within rays. Another inscription on a wide border around. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1798
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 41.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Brown 1980 states:
The growth of his factory and the increased need for motive power induced Boulton to direct his attention to the steam engine. With the help of James Watt he was able to make use of steam power for his new coining machine and in 1788 a number of presses were set up at Soho to be worked by that method.
This medal was produced by Boulton to record the effectiveness of his machine and also to serve as a public record of his various improvements since he feared they would be claimed by the French. See J. G. Pollard, Matthew Boulton and Conrad Heinrich Küchler, 'Numismatic Chronicle', 1970, p. 295, No. 27.
This medal is believed to have been struck at the Soho manufactory c. 1803. Presumably it was intended for the French market.
Bibliography: Grueber, H. A., English Personal Medals for 1760, 'Numismatic Chronicle', third series vol. VIII, 1888/83.
- Location
- On display (G68/dc15/p1)
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Matthew Boulton's New Machinery for Striking Coins, 1798
- Department
- Money and Medals
- Registration number
- M.5120
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: HSBC.1702 (Money Gallery Exhibited)
- C&M catalogue number
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MB3 (Brown 1) (113) (462)