Great Britain – Thanksgiving Medal, March 27 – June 1, 1802 – Bronze – Peace of Amiens Description: Beautiful early 19th-century British bronze medal commemorating the Peace of Amiens (1802), issued to celebrate the end of hostilities between Great Britain and France after the long War of the Second Coalition. The medal expresses the nation’s thanksgiving and religious gratitude for peace after years of conflict. Obverse: Legend: “MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD.” Depicts an angel presenting a scroll inscribed “GOD 1801” to a kneeling female figure (personification of Britannia or Faith) before an altar. Below: “MARCH 27, 1802 – K & R” (for Küchler & Reich). This date marks the formal signing of the Treaty of Amiens, which temporarily ended the war between Great Britain and Napoleonic France. Reverse: Legend: “WE PRAISE THEE O GOD.” Depicts Britannia standing with arms raised toward heaven, rays of divine light shining down; to the left, the domes of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London; to the right, a helmet and shield placed on the ground as symbols of peace after battle. Below: “THANKSGIVING JUNE 1.” This refers to the national day of thanksgiving proclaimed by King George III in celebration of peace. Metal: Bronze Date: 1802 Diameter: approx. 48 mm Engraver: Conrad Heinrich Küchler (K & R), one of the most skilled medallists working at the Soho Mint, Birmingham, under Matthew Boulton. Mint: Soho Mint, Birmingham Condition: Extremely Fine (EF). Smooth surfaces, well-preserved details in both figures and inscriptions, attractive warm brown patina, minor age toning. References: BHM 523; Eimer 935; Medallic Illustrations II, p. 575, no. 850. Historical background: The Peace of Amiens, signed on March 27, 1802, marked the first and only peace between Napoleon’s France and Britain during the Napoleonic Wars. The celebrations across Britain included national services of thanksgiving and numerous commemorative issues. This medal beautifully combines neoclassical artistry with Christian iconography, symbolizing gratitude and divine blessing for the brief period of peace before war resumed in 1803. An elegant and historically significant British medal – a fine example of the Soho Mint’s artistry under Matthew Boulton, representing faith, peace, and the short-lived hope of reconciliation in Europe.