Orders, Decorations and Medals

Austria, Empire, ORDER OF MARIA THERESA, The important silver medal presented to Field Marshal The Duke of Wellington to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations of his Imperial Highness Archduke Carl Ludwig as a Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa 1843

ORDER OF MARIA THERESA, Jubilee Medal, Karl Ludwig Erzherzog von Osterreich 1843, silver, by I.D. Boehm, officially impressed on the edge (Arthur Herzog V. Wellington) 52mm, contained in its original fitted presentation case which has provision for another similar medal in gold (see note below), sold with original Jubilee Handbook by F.C. Wiedmann, 1843, l32pp, which contains lists of the holders of the Order, good very fine and rare

Provenance Ex. Apsley House circa 1978. Collection of Antonio Spada (ref 'Onori & Glorie', pp.264-S, ill.). The Jubilee Medal was presented in 1843 to all living holders of this rare Order. Each medal was officially impressed to the individual recipient, some of whom chose to adapt them to be worn. The case referred to above originally held a specimen struck in gold which, although unnamed, was possibly unique and struck specially for presentation to the Duke. This gold medal was sadly the subject of a burglary some 10 years ago. The Duke of Wellington was created Grand Cross of the Order in 1813 as a reward for his victories in the Peninsula Wars. At the time of the 1843 Jubilee he was one of only five holders of the Grand Cross. There were 17 holders of the Commander's Cross and approximately 140 holders of the Knight's Cross. Wellington was the only British holder of the Grand Cross.