Admiral Nelson 1805

This silver medal depicting Admiral Nelson was crafted by Thomas Wyon the Younger in the early 19th century. The Latin inscription, “Horatio Nelson, for fighting for his country, died,” frames Nelson’s profile, immortalizing his sacrifice. Consider the profile portrait itself, a motif stretching back to ancient coins and imperial busts. It evokes power and authority. Yet, here, Nelson is not a conquering hero in the classical sense but a fallen one. His death, explicitly noted, adds a layer of pathos. The profile, usually a symbol of enduring presence, becomes a memento mori, a reminder of mortality. This medal taps into the collective memory of heroism and sacrifice. We see echoes of ancient Greek and Roman ideals, reborn in the age of empires and revolutions. This continuous thread shows us how symbols persist and adapt, carrying the weight of history into the present.