Item number: M346

Year: AD 1827

Material: Gold

Size: 79.0 x 35.2 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 40.9 g

Manufactured by: Royal Mint

Provenance:

1. Spink 2024

2. Spink 2017

3. Sotheby 1971

This is a gold medal awarded in AD 1827 by the predecessor of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, to Lieutenant James Lindsay of the Royal Coastguard. The medal was presented in recognition of his heroic actions on February 7 of that year, when he risked his life to successfully rescue shipwreck survivors near his station in Nairn, Scotland. The medal was issued in two grades, gold and silver, depending on the material.

The medal is circular in design, with the obverse featuring a left-facing portrait of King George IV, the reigning monarch at the time. Below the portrait, the initials “W WYON MINT” are inscribed, representing the mark of William Wyon, the Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint, indicating that this medal was both designed by Wyon and struck at the Royal Mint. Beneath the portrait is the year AD 1824, denoting the founding of the institution.

The portrait is encircled by two concentric inscriptions. The outermost inscription reads the full name of the institution, “ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK,” while the inner inscription bears the name of its royal patron, King George IV.

The design of the obverse, including the portrait and the name of the patron, would change with each reigning monarch. In AD 1854, under Queen Victoria, the institution was renamed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the outer inscription was updated accordingly.

The reverse of the medal features a vivid relief depicting three rescue workers in a lifeboat amidst crashing waves, collaboratively saving individuals who have fallen overboard. The same inscription, “W WYON MINT,” found on the obverse, is visible in the lower left corner, identifying William Wyon as the designer and engraver.

Above the scene, an arched inscription reads, “LET NOT THE DEEP SWALLOW ME UP,” a poignant quotation from the Book of Psalms (Psalm 69:2) in the Bible, underscoring the peril of the sea and the institution’s mission to save lives.

At the top of the medal is a circular loop connected to a deep blue ribbon, which in turn is attached to a rectangular plaque at its upper end. Along the lower edge of the medal, the recipient’s rank, name, and award date are engraved: “LIEUT. JAMES LINDSAY R.N. 7 FEBY 1827.” This translates to “Lieutenant James Lindsay, Royal Navy, February 7, AD 1827.”

According to auction records, these inscriptions at the bottom were added privately later, rather than being part of the original design.

In AD 1783, James Lindsay was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and joined the Royal Navy in AD 1803. In AD 1805, he served aboard the HMS Mars and participated in the legendary Battle of Trafalgar, which established the British Empire’s naval supremacy for the next century. By AD 1827, Lindsay had risen to the rank of lieutenant and returned to Scotland to serve with the Coastguard at Nairn.

On February 7, AD 1827, the sloop Lively met with disaster near the coast. Lindsay, along with two subordinates, risked their lives to rescue the ship’s captain, two sailors, and a female passenger. Despite the harsh sea conditions, Lindsay never released his hold on the woman, ensuring she was not swept away by the powerful waves.

In AD 1845, Lindsay passed away at the age of 62. It was not until AD 1849 that the British government introduced the Naval General Service Medal, meaning Lindsay narrowly missed the opportunity to receive this honour for his distinguished service.

In the early 19th century, the waters surrounding the British Isles experienced an average of 1,800 shipwrecks annually. This alarming figure inspired Sir William Hillary to propose the establishment of a national organisation dedicated to training lifeboat crews. Although the idaea was initially rejected by the Royal Navy, it gained the support of Members of Parliament and subsequently secured royal patronage from King George IV. On March 4, AD 1824, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was officially founded.

物件編號: M346

年代: 公元 1827 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 79.0 x 35.2 x 2.0 mm

重量: 40.9 g

製造地: 皇家造幣廠

來源:

1. 斯賓克拍賣行 2024

2. 斯賓克拍賣行 2017

3. 蘇富比拍賣行 1971

這是一枚公元1827年，「皇家全國救生艇協會」的前身「皇家全國海難救生協會」頒發給皇家岸防隊的詹姆斯.林賽中尉的金質獎章，以鼓勵他於當年2月7日在蘇格蘭奈恩駐防地冒著危險，成功拯救遭遇海難人員的英勇事蹟。獎章按照材質差異有金和銀兩個等級。

獎章外觀為圓形，正面是時任英國國王的喬治四世左側肖像，於人像右下角有英國皇家造幣廠首席雕刻師威廉·威恩的戳記「W WYON MINT」，代表這枚獎章出自威廉·威恩的設計和交由皇家造幣廠鑄造。人像下方則是協會創立的年份「1824」。人像外圍有兩道環型銘文，最外側是協會全名「ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK」 (皇家全國海難救生協會)，內側則是贊助人國王喬治四世的名字。獎章正面的人像和贊助人姓名會隨統治者變化而更迭，公元1854年，時任女王的維多利亞將協會更名為「皇家全國救生艇協會」，外圍的銘文也隨之調整。

獎章背面是三名在救生艇上的救難人員於浪花中，一同協力營救落海人員的生動浮雕，於左下角也能發現跟正面相同的戳記「W WYON MINT」。上方的環型銘文「LET NOT THE DEEP SWALLOW ME UP」(我到了深水中，大水漫過我身) 出自《聖經》〈詩篇69:2〉，以此強調大海的危險和組織營救生命的使命。

獎章頂端有一個圓環銜接深藍色綬帶，綬帶的頂端有一個方形牌匾。而在獎章下方的邊緣處鐫刻得獎人的頭銜、姓名和得獎日期「LIEUT. JAMES LINDSAY R.N. 7 FEBY 1827.」(中尉 詹姆斯.林賽 皇家海軍 公元1827年2月7日)。根據拍賣行的紀錄，這些鐫刻在底部的銘文是事後私下追加的。

公元1783年，詹姆斯.林賽出生於蘇格蘭亞伯丁，並且於公元1803年加入皇家海軍服役。公元1805年在確立大英帝國未來一世紀海上霸權的特拉法加海戰中，林賽服役於火星號參與這場傳奇性的戰役。公元1827年已經晉升為中尉的林賽返回蘇格蘭以岸防隊身分在奈恩服役。當年度的2月7日，一艘名為活潑號的史路普帆船在附近發生船難，林賽和兩名下屬冒著生命危險救出船長、兩名水手和一名女性乘客，尤其是在惡劣海象的情況下，林賽沒有一刻放開女性乘客確保她不會遭到巨浪捲走。公元1845年，林賽以62歲之齡逝世，政府則直到公元1849年才設立「海軍一般服務獎章」，使得林賽和這一枚獎章錯身而過。

公元19世紀初期，英倫三島周遭的海域平均每年會發生1,800起的船難。因此威廉·希拉里爵士受到刺激，希望能組織全國性的協會以進行救生艇人員培訓，雖然這個構想遭到皇家海軍拒絕，卻得到國會議員和後續英王喬治四世的皇家贊助。公元1824年3月4日，皇家全國海難救生協會正式成立。