1842年中国-英国第一次鸦片战争/维多利亚试铸铜章。伦敦铸币厂。无日期版。出自 W. Wyon 之手。直径：36 毫米。正面头顶皇冠的维多利亚左侧肖像。反面"ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM" (武力赢得和平)，椭圆盾牌置于热兵器及乐器之前，棕榈树在后。底线下有"CHINA"铭牌。光边。为纪念第一次鸦片战争后签订的南京条约所铸。<strong>非常罕见</strong>的试铸章。深巧克力棕色表面，光泽耀眼。另一枚类似拍品为 2021 年 9 月香港秋季拍卖中的拍品 #21606，反面刻有日期"1842"。当时成交价高达 40,800 美元。该条约导致"在很长一段时间内"香港岛将作为大英帝国的直辖殖民地。此章的设计与 1842 年的战役银章设计相同，而此枚则是为鸦片战争勋章而打的试铸版，极罕见。Wyon 的初版设计是英国雄狮脚踏躺倒地上的中国龙，但因饱受抨击而由此设计取代。此替换设计的黄铜样币铸打版极为难寻。
GREAT BRITAIN. China - Great Britain. First Opium War/Victoria Bronze Medal Trial, ND (1842). London Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64.BHM-Unlisted; Eimer-Unlisted; cf. Barac-72 (in silver and with clasp) & cf. Barac-97 (same; for Second Opium War); cf. Gordon-50 (in silver and with clasp) & cf. Gordon-59 (same; for Second Opium War). Undated variety. By W. Wyon. Diameter: 36mm. Obverse: Diademed head of Victoria left; Reverse: ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM (<em>seeking peace through might</em>), oval shield in front of pile of military implements and musical instruments; palm tree in background; CHINA on tablet in exergue. <em>Edge</em>: Plain. A medal issued to commemorate the Treaty of Nanking which ended the First Opium War, this <strong>VERY RARE</strong> trial striking in bronze presents deep chocolate brown surfaces and incredible brilliance. Compare to a similar example with the date "1842" in the reverse exergue, a PCGS SPECIMEN-66 in our September 2021 Hong Kong auction (lot # 21606), which realized a total of $40,800.
The treaty had the effect of creating the island of Hong Kong as a Crown Colony to the British Empire "for a lengthy period of time." This particular medal. Carrying the same design as a silver campaign order from 1842, this medal appears to be an exceptionally rare trial strike of the medal awards for decoration during the Opium Wars. The originally designed medal by Wyon was rejected for being too insensitive, and this replacement design is incredibly difficult to find as a specimen bronze strike.
Ex: Bayard Family.
