Waterloo Medals auctioned
December 8, 2016 - The Chairman in Chairman's Blog, News & Blog Posts
This week a number of Waterloo Medals were sold at Dix Noonan Webb and it is interesting to see that the price seems to have dropped now that we a
re well beyond the Bicentenary. Serjeant John Gibson was very interested as his medal is now in my possession complete with original ribbon.
However the one illustrated was also to a soldier in the 33rd Foot, Private James Cowell who lost a leg at Waterloo. It sold for £2400 whereas similar medals to soldiers in the 14th Foot and even 1st Guards sold for half that. Clearly those from the Great Dukes own Regiment attracts a premium
The Waterloo Medal was the first to be universally issued to all ranks and it was distributed very soon after the battle and came with two additional years for pension. The Peninsular Medal, correctly termed the Military General Service Medal 1793 – 1814 was not issued until 1847 without any addition to pension by which time most of the veterans of Spain and Portugal had long since died.
