This medal is neither Art Nouveau nor Art Deco nor any other particular style that I know of, but it's still one of my favorites: it's my only example in silver from the 40-medal set issued by James Mudie in 1820 (in both silver and bronze) to commemorate British Military and Naval Victories during the Napoleonic Wars. Great Britain 1815 (struck 1820), Surrender of Napoleon. Obv. Bust of Napoleon right, uniformed; NAPOLEON BONAPARTE; signature below / Rev. British man of war Bellerophon, in full sail, with Imperial Eagle on flag staff; Napoleon stands on quarterdeck with right hand inside coat; another ship beyond; SURRENDERED TO H.B.M.S. BELLEROPHON CAPT. MAITLAND. Exergue: XV JULY. MDCCCXV; signatures below. By T. Webb/N.G.A Brenet. AR 41 mm., 38.8 g. Eimer 1078, Mudie 37, BHM 884, Bramsen 1691. Ex. Spink Auction 136, Oct. 7, 1999, Lot 992.
I was never a collector of medals, but when I saw this one I just had to have it. Something about the design, the extreme relief - it just spoke to me. And the subject matter just happens to be the same as what you're talking about
That's a wonderful medal. It's one of the Mudie medals I used to have in bronze, but sold about five years ago. I had a total of about 35 of the 40, and sold all but about half a dozen, including the Napoleon surrender medal. In retrospect, I sort of wish I had kept them all, especially given how little the buyer paid me -- an average of only $30-35 per medal. But back then I really needed whatever I could get.