'Probably the Finest Known' example of Alexander Davison's Medal for Trafalgar, believed to...

‘Probably the Finest Known’ example of Alexander Davison’s Medal for Trafalgar, believed to have been presented by Nelson’s Prize Agent to the crew of the Flagship H.M.S. Victory and intended for wear by those sailors attending Nelson’s State Funeral ceremonies in January 1806 Alexander Davison’s Medal for Trafalgar 1805, pewter, contained in copper frame as usual with integral loop and split ring for suspension, unnamed as issued, extremely fine as struck £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: Spink, May 2003. It is believed that copper-rimmed pewter medals commemorating Nelson and H.M.S. Victory (designed by T Halliday) were hastily commissioned by Alexander Davison, Nelson’s Agent, for award to the crew of H.M.S. Victory who took part in the battle and were in London at the time of Nelson’s State Funeral, with the intention that Victory’s crew members would wear them during the funeral ceremonies and the great procession. When Victory returned to England carrying Nelson’s body, most members of her crew volunteered to be brought to London to participate in the various memorial ceremonies which lasted for over five days, culminating in the great funeral procession through the streets from the Admiralty in Whitehall to St Paul’s Cathedral on 9 January 1806.