Великобритания медальон 1897 Флагманский корабль адмирала Нельсона HMS Foudroyant

Трафальга́рское сраже́ние (англ. Battle of Trafalgar, фр. bataille de Trafalgar, исп. batalla de Trafalgar) — историческое морское сражение между британскими и франко-испанскими морскими силами. Произошло 21 октября 1805 года у мыса Трафальгар на Атлантическом побережье Испании около города Кадис.

В этой решающей морской битве времён Наполеоновских войн Франция и Испания потеряли двадцать два корабля, в то время как Великобритания — ни одного. Во время сражения погиб командующий английским флотом вице-адмирал Горацио Нельсон.

Объединённым флотом Франции и Испании командовал французский адмирал Пьер Вильнёв. Под его управлением находился испанский адмирал Федерико Гравина, руководивший испанскими силами.

Трафальгарская битва была частью Войны третьей коалиции и главным морским противостоянием XIX века. Победа Великобритании подтвердила морское превосходство страны, установленное в XVIII веке. После поражения Наполеон оставил свой план нападения на южную часть Англии и начал войну против двух других главных сил Европы: Австрии и России

 This medallion was struck in 1897 following the "Wrecking of HMS Foudroyant".

Foudroyant is French for "thunderbolt" and was built in 1797 at Plymouths and launched in 1798. She became an "80 gun third rate" of the Royal Navy and served as Nelson’s flagship between 1799 and 1801 and in the recapturing of Naples. For 17 years she served many admirals. She was a guard ship at Plymouth Docks from 1819 until 1860. In 1862, she was converted to a training ship.  In 1892 she was sold to a German firm for one thousand pounds (for breaking up).  There was a public outcry because of her association with Nelson, including a Punch cartoon.  She was then purchased by George Wheatley Cobb for twenty thousand pounds (his own expense) with a view to display at various ports and to be employed as a sail training ship.  She was wrecked on Blackpool sands having foundered in a gale on 16th  June 1897.  The salvage terms were that the company involved received two thousand pounds only if they re-floated her.  Should they fail, they could buy the wreck for ten pounds.  The ship was unsalvageable and the company recovered some of their expenses by making and selling souvenirs from the timber and copper.  Hundreds of different varieties were sold, including medallions, coins, items of furniture and walking sticks.  This medallion was made from copper recovered from the hull sheathing from HMS Foudroyant.  

Copper; 38 mm diameter; 3.5 mm thickness; 30.4 grams weight.

Obverse: In the centre there is the bust of Lord Nelson, above is the legend “HORATIO. VISCOUNT NELSON”.  Beneath the bust is the legend “BORN 29TH SEPTEMBER. 1758. DIED, 21ST OCTOBRE, 1805.”  Beneath this is a registration number “REG. NO. 311490”.

Reverse: In the centre there is a finely detailed 3/4 rear view of the ship at sea but with some sails furled.  Above this image is the legend “”FOUDROYANT”. LORD NELSON’S “FLAGSHIP””. Beneath the image is the legend “COMMENCED BUILDING, 1789, LAUNCHED AT PLYMOUTH. APRIL, 1798 WRECKED AT BLACKPOOL JUNE. 16TH, 1897.”  Around the rim of the medal at the bottom there is also the legend “MEDAL STRUCK FROM COPPER OF VESSEL AFTER BREAKING UP”.