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Great Britain - 1811

Capture of the French Imperial Eagle

Obverse:

An eagle standing upon a ribbon inscribed: BARROSA

Legend:

THE FRENCH IMPERIAL EAGLE

Exergue:

MARCH 5 / 1811

Size:

25.9 mm.

Reverse:

TAKEN AT / BARROSE / BY THE BRITISH / TROOPS / COMMANDED / BY / GEN.^L GRAYHAM

Vern's Comments:

An excellent example of when an engraver had no idea of what something looked like. the Eagles were incredibly important to their regiment, death was preferable to the loss of one.
This is a silvered copper example.

BHM:

N^o. 714
AE, AE silvered 25 by ?

AE R; AE silvered R.
E.P.M. 1891/394.
BM; ML.

Thomas Graham. afterwards Lord Lyncdoch, commanded the British army that defeated the French at Barrosa under Marshal Victor, 5th March. 1811, the French leaving nearly 3,000 dead, 6 pieces of cannon, and an Eagle, the first the British had taken.

British Historical Medals, p. 174

Capture of the French Imperial Eagle