AN EXCESSIVELY RARE SMALL BRONZE MEDAL COMMEMORATING COMMODO...

Hammer

£80

AN EXCESSIVELY RARE SMALL BRONZE MEDAL COMMEMORATING COMMODORE RICHARD HOWE AND WILLIAM PITT THE ELDER, CIRCA 1758-60

the obverse, uniformed half-length bust of Howe, holding baton, inscribed THE RIGHT HONO^E COMMODORE HOWE, reverse, uniformed half-length bust of William Pitt, inscribed THE RIGHT HONOE WILLIAM PITT -- 24mm.

Literature: Brown, Laurence, British Historical Medals 1760-1960, 3 vols., London 1980-1995, no. 5, where given the highest rarity ‘RRRR’.

When, in 1756, the Seven Years' War broke out, William Pitt was Secretary of State with sole charge of the direction of the war and foreign affairs and it was he who chose the Commanders. By late in 1758 the tide turned in England’s favour and 1759 was the “Year of Victories”. Howe had commanded the attacks on St. Malo and Cherbourg. Betts, however, dates the medal to 1773, which seems unlikely.