Owner Comments:
One of the more challenging parts of building this set is finding the needed information to provide the historical context of the medal presented. This medal is an excellent example of that complication. Despite having it for years, I have been unable to add it to the set because details of the Staffordshire Agriculture Society’s early history are not readily available. This organization is still in operation today, so it seems reasonable that some archive of its history exists. Despite my best efforts, I have had no success locating any such archive. As is often the case, my best attempt to provide any amount of historical context is contingent upon what I can glean from contemporary newspapers.
Historical Context:
For those of you who have not already done so, I would encourage you to stop here and resume after you have read the entry for the Board of Agriculture medal in this set. That write-up provides a larger context for the importance of agricultural societies in England and helps the reader understand why these medals were ever struck.
The first mention of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society that I could find was published in the
STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, And Political, Literary, and Commercial Gazette on April 26th, 1800. It reads:
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“
STAFFORDSHIRE
AGRICULTURE SOCIETY.
The first Meeting will be held at the Swan Inn, in Lichfield, on Tuesday the 20th day of May next, at Eleven o’Clock in the forenoon, to consider of proper Premiums to be given for different kinds of Stock, and other improvements in the Farming line; - and also Premiums for the encouragement of Industry and good behavior amongst Servants and Labourers, bringing up Children, without expence to the Parish, and for long and faithful service in Husbandry.
RICH. DYOTT, President,
Appointed by the Board of Agriculture.
Freeford, 24th April, 1800.
Present Members and Annual Subscribers of One Guinea each. [OMITTED FOR BREVITY]
Any Person of the County Stafford wishing to become a Member, must apply to the President, or to Mr. William Bond, of Lichfield, Secretary to the Society.
W.M. BOND, Secretary.
There will be a dinner provided at 3 o’Clock.”
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We learn a few interesting pieces of information from the above text. First, we learn that the Board of Agriculture had a direct influence as it appointed the first president. Second, we learn that membership of the society is limited and requires the duty of one guinea. Third, we learn that this society will largely function the same as the Board of Agriculture. Fourth, we learn that the Staffordshire Agricultural Society intends to provide premiums (i.e., prizes) to encourage agriculture and good citizenship. This local society deviates from the function of the national society by providing prizes to parents who do not accept resources from the local parish. We learn more about the structure of the organization and the parameters of the proposed premiums from a copy of the
STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, And Political, Literary, and Commercial Gazette dated June 7th, 1800. It reads:
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“
STAFFORDSHIRE
AGRICULTURE SOCIETY.
At the first Meeting, held at the Swan Inn, in Lichfield, on Tuesday the 20th day of May,
Present
RICHARD DYOTT, President,
[two columns of 12 names have been omitted for brevity]
Resolved,
That THOS. ANSON, Esq. be elected Vice President.
That Mr. WM. BOND be appointed Treasurer and Secretary.
That Premiums be given, in proportion to the sums subscribed annually, so that a sum of money be left towards defraying any incidental charges.
That no person be permitted to shew for any Premium, who is not a Subscriber, and resident within the county.
That the annual Subscription of One Guinea shall entitle a person to be a Member, and that every person who has given, or may give in his name as a Member, is and shall be deemed such, and his Subscription be considered as justly due the Society, until he gives notice in writing to the Secretary, of his intention to withdraw it.
That the Subscriptions be paid annually, into the hands of Mr. Wm. Bond the Treasurer, on or before the third Tuesday in June, in each year.
That the meeting of this Society shall be held as follows, on the third Tuesday in June, and the third Tuesday in September, in each year.
That a let of such Premiums as the Society may think to offer for the present year, be immediately printed and published.
That as the principal design of this Institution is the exciting a spirit of Industry and Ingenuity, to promote the public good, the Premiums offered shall be more immediately directed to such improvements as are best adapted to this part of England.
That Premiums be annually offered, for the encouragement of Industry and good behavior amongst Servants in Husbandry, and Labourers in this county.
That the following Premiums be offered for the present year:
To any Labourer in Husbandry, who shall have brought up the greatest number of children, born in wedlock, without assistance from the parish, the sum of 3.3.0 [pounds, shillings, pence].
To the second 2.2.0 [pounds, shillings, pence].
To any servant in Husbandry, who shall have continued the greatest number of Years on the same Farm 3.3.0 [pounds, shillings, pence].
To the second 2.2.0 [pounds, shillings, pence].
Applications to be delivered to the Secretary, on or before the first day in September next.
The application must describe the ground of claim, and be accompanied by a Certificate, signed by the resident Minister of the parish, in which the Claimant lives, or by the Master and Mistress under whom he has served, and two other credible Householders, having a positive knowledge of the fact certified.
Not less than six Children, or fifteen years of service, will be deemed a sufficient pretension. – The Claimants are desired not to attend, as the successful Candidates will have notice in the Birmingham Paper.
That the following Premiums be offered for the year 1801.
To the person who shall, on the third Tuesday in June, produce the best three years old Fat Wether Sheep – A Silver Medal
For the second best – ditto.
For the best two years old Fat Wether Sheep – ditto.
For the second best – ditto.
For the best Shearhog Ram – ditto.
For the second best – ditto.
To the person who shall, on the 3d Tuesday in September, produce the best Fat Wether Shearhog – ditto.
For the second best – ditto.
For the best Theave – ditto.
For the second best – ditto.
The Sheep to have been fed with Grass, Hay, or Roots, not to have had Corn, and to be shewn by the Person who bred and fed them.
For the best Stirk – A Silver Medal
For the second best – ditto.
For the best Two Years old Bull – ditto.
For the second best – ditto.
For the best Grey faced Two Shear Ram – ditto.
For the best Grey faced Ewe – ditto.
That [10 people listed by full name – omitted for brevity] gent. be elected Honorary Members of this Society, and that one or more of these Gentlemen be required to attend the Annual Meetings, in order to determine upon the Premiums to be allowed.
That none but Members be admitted to the Meeting; unless introduced by a Member.
W.M. BOND, Secretary.”
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From the extraordinarily informative notice reproduced above we learn a few mundane details (e.g., who is appointed an officer, the subscription process, the appointment of honorary members, etc.). Perhaps one of the more interesting fact we learn is that a cash prize is to be presented to those with the largest unassisted family or the longest continuous service. We also learn about the parameters of this award. To be considered one must have
no less than six kids of fifteen years of service. Even by today’s standards, that seems like a rather hefty minimum requirement. The most germane piece of information we learned is that the society intends to award silver medals for first and second-place winners across at least 16 categories. At the time of this proposal, the society will require the production of no less than 32 silver medals per year. As you may have guessed, the Soho Mint would have no issues fulfilling such a meager order. As history soon revealed, the Staffordshire Agricultural Society would up the ante once their ledger was reviewed. We learn in an October issue of the
STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER, And Political, Literary, and Commercial Gazette the names of those who won and the prizes they were granted. It reads:
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“
1800.
STAFFORDSHIRE
AGRICULTURE SOCIETY.
At the Meeting, held at Swan Inn, in Lichfield, on Tuesday the 30th of September, 1800,
Present
RICHARD DYOTT, President,
THOMAS ANSON, Vice-President:
[two columns of 14 names have been omitted for brevity]
The Treasurer’s Accounts were examined, and approved; and there appeared a balance, in his hands, of 81.17.9 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]. In favor of the Society.
The Secretary was directed to apply to the several Members who are in Arrear, and to solicit Payment.
The Premiums to the following Persons, were ordered to be paid by the Secretary.
To Labourers in Husbandry, having reared Families without Assitance from the Parish.
William Wright, of Huntington, in the Parish of Cannock, 13 children – 3.3.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
John Cheadle, of Whittington, 11 ditto, – 2.2.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
To Servants in Husbandry, for long and faithful Services.
Francis Astle, 55 Years with Mr. Adams, of Tatenhill, 3.3.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
William Harpur, 34 Years with Jane Sherratt, of Blithford, 2.2.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
To Labourers in Husbandry, for long and faithful Services.
William Sansom, 45 Years on Tamhorn Farm, in the Occupation of Richard Dyott, 3.3.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
Edward Smith, 44 Years on Tanforn Farm, in the Occupation of Richard Dyott, 2.2.0 [Pounds, Shilling, Pence]
The premiums are continued for Labourers in Husbandry, bringing up Children, born in Wedlock, without Assistance from the Parish; Servants in Husbandry, for long and faithful Services; and Labourers in Husbandry, for the same.
Applications to be delivered to the Secretary, on or before the 21st day of September, 1801.
The application must describe the ground of claim, and be accompanied by a Certificate, signed by the resident Minister of the parish, or by the Master and Mistress under whom he has served, or two other credible Householders, (having a positive knowledge of the facts certified).
No Person to receive any of the above Premiums more than once in four Years.
The following Premiums are offered for the ensuing Year.
To the Person who shall on the third Tuesday in July next, produce the best Shear Hog Ram – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best Two Shear ditto, - A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best three years old Fat Wether Sheep – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best two years old Fat Wether Sheep – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best Boar Pig – A Gold Medal
For the best Gilt, in pig – A Gold Medal
For the best Yearling Bull – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best two years old Bull, - A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
To the Person who shall on the last Tuesday in September next, produce the best Fat Wether Shear Hog, - A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best Theaves – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best grey-faced two Shear Ram – A Gold Medal
For the best Grey-faced Ewe – A Gold Medal
For the best Grey-faced Two Shear Wesher - A Gold Medal
For the best Stirk – A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
For the best old Heifer, - A Gold Medal
For the second best, – A silver Medal
The Seheep and Cattle to have been fed with Grass, Hay, or Roots, not to have had Corn, and to be shewn by the Person who bred and fed them.
By the Order of the Society,
WM. BOND, Secretary.
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Although we do not learn who won the medals, we do learn who won the cash prizes. It is interesting to note how large the winning families were. In my opinion, it is staggering to think of raising so many children on what I would assume was a meager wage. It is also interesting to note that the workers under the employment of the Society’s President won the two service-related awards for Labourers in Husbandry. Nonetheless, they were very deserving with each accruing over four decades of committed employment. The most important piece of new information we learn is that the Society has greatly expanded the breadth of the awards to now include 24 medals. Of the 24 medals, 14 are to be struck in gold and 10 in silver. It appears that the Society was doing very well financially to afford the lavish expense of producing so many relatively large (i.e., 48mm) medals struck in precious metals.
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Obverse: It is worth noting the obverse design is complete on this pattern piece. It is missing the laurel wreath and the obverse legend that appears above Britannia and below the exergue line.
The reverse depicts Britannia seated facing left. Her hair is tightly formed and concealed by a crown made of laurel. She is wearing a robe that clings tightly to her body. Her right arm is extended outward her fist clinched as if she is supposed to be holding something (e.g., a laurel wreath). She embraces an upside-down cornucopia that is spilling its contents into the foreground. A heraldically colored shield rests on the ground pinned down by a large lion that rests behind Brittania’s back. The lion is facing the viewer. A farmer guiding a mule and plow is depicted in the distant background in front of Britannia. A small mountain range can be seen in the farthest distance on either side of Britannia. The foreground is cutoff with the sharp exergue line and is curved on either side that it does not touch the inner rim.
Reverse: A wreath of two branches tied together with a ribbon with two large bows and two loosed ends is depicted. The loose end of the right bow droops below the branch of the right stem and overlaps it from behind. The loose end of the left bow drops below and overlaps the left stem from the front. The engraver’s initials adorn the outfacing parts of the loose ends with
C. appearing to the left and
H. K. to the right. The middle of the wreath is intentionally devoid of detail to allow space to engrave the name of the recipient.
Edge: Plain [This is an educated guess as the edge is obscured by the holder]
Size: 48mm
Notes: It is clear from the sections above that a good number of these medals were likely produced; however, not many are offered for sale. Tungate (2020) reports a total mintage of 200 medals, but this does not include the patterns. Oddly, the unfished patterns of this medal are often the most frequently encountered.
It is worth noting that this piece appeared as Lot 10450 in a 2012 Stack’s Bowers Auction with he following description: “
48 mm; 46.3 gms. Eimer-unlisted; BHM-unlisted. An unusual piece acquired directly from the Bolton family in 2007, copy of the documentation included. Bolton and Watt were co-proprietors of the Soho Mint. The obverse features Britannia seated at the seashore, a lion at her back. The legends, engraver's initials and the wreath held by Britannia in her extended hand on finished medals has not yet been added; Reverse: A wreath with central area blank. The recipients name would normally be found here. Choice prooflike surfaces with a few darker areas, especially on the periphery. Five or six pieces known, all from Bolton family holdings.”. It had an estimate of $400-600 but hammered at $763.75 (with BP).
Pollard (1970) further notes that “
There are three trial pieces for the medal in the British Museum. One, struck in copper, lacking on the obverse the wreath held by Britannia, the inscriptions, and the artist's initials; two bronzed lead trial pieces of the finished medal.”. I have three of the purported six examples in existence, and I have reason to suspect that around a dozen or so of these patterns may exist.
The holder is very scuffed – the scratches you see are on the plastic – this medal is clean for the grade
References:
Pollard, J. G. (1970). Matthew Boulton and Conrad Heinrich Küchler. The Numismatic Chronicle, 10, 259-318.
Tungate, S. (2020) Matthew Boulton and The Soho Mint: copper to customer. Worcestershire: Brewin Books.