Cased Hallmarked Silver Commemorative Medallion - 150th Anniversary (1822-1972) of P.S. AARON MANBY – No.348

Here on offer is a hallmarked silver limited edition (no.348) commemorative medallion, celebrating the 150th anniversary (1822-1972) of P.S. AARON MANBY.

The front depicts the image of the steam ship P.S. AARON MANBY with a head of steam, and the French words:

BATEAU A VAPEUR EN FER

Which translates to IRON STEAMSHIP

The reverse displays the raised words:

1822-1972
P.S. AARON MANBY
CONSTRUCTED
HORSELEY IRONWORKS
TIPTON
STAFFS

There are also a clear set of English silver hallmarks, the Lion Passant for English silver (925), an anchor for the assay office of Birmingham and the date letter “X” for the year 1972.

It also shows the makers mark, “V&S.” which relates to the maker:

Vaughtons Ltd of Birmingham, England.

Stamped into the rim, is the number 348, which I believe is the limited-edition number for production run of 500 medallions.

It also comes with its original red leatherette covered hinged metal case.

Inside the silk lined lid is stamped with the maker’s name and details:

VAUGHTONS Ltd
Badges & Medals
BIRMINHAM 3.

The medal fits neatly into a red velvet lined recessed section of the base.

It measures 1.5” (3.8cm) diameter and weighs 25g.

Below is some relevant history that may be of interest.

Aaron Manby was born on the 15th November, 1776 and founded and ran the Horseley Ironworks, which began life as the Horseley Coal and Iron Company, with coal mines, ironworks and an engineering factory.
Manby and Captain Charles Napier formed a company in France to operate steam boats on the River Seine between Rouen and Paris. Their first iron boat, built at Horseley works was financed by Napier and registered on the 30th April, 1822 as ‘Manby’, although it was generally known as the ‘Aaron Manby’.formed the steamboat operating company in France, with Captain Charles Napier, who had the idea of operating steamships on the Seine. They were assisted by Charles Manby in the design of an iron paddle steamer to operate on the Seine. It was patented in France and built at Horseley, before sailing to France.
The boat was 106 feet 10 inches long, and 17 feet 2 inches wide. The flat-bottomed hull was made from ¼ inch thick iron plate fastened to iron ribs and powered by a 32 horsepower, two-cylinder oscillating steam engine. The cylinders were 27 inches in diameter with a stroke of 3 feet. The steam was 2 lbs above atmospheric pressure and the funnel was 47 feet high. The paddles were of a type designed by the Irish engineer, John Oldham. They had a radius of 6 feet and were 2½ feet wide. The top speed was about 9 knots and the draught was one foot less than any other contemporary steamboat.
After completion, the boat was transported in pieces by canal to Rotherhithe and assembled at the Surrey Canal Dock. The boat was then registered on the 30th April, 1822 under the name of ‘Manby’, but was generally known as the Aaron Manby.
After trials on the River Thames, the ship sailed to Rouen via Boulogne, captained by Charles Napier, with Charles Manby on board as ship’s engineer. The ship arrived at Boulogne on the 18th May, before reaching Rouen on the 27th or 28th May. It then sailed along the Seine to reach Paris on the 10th June, 1822. It carried passengers and a cargo of iron castings and linseed. It was the first iron ship to go to sea.
The ship made other voyages along the channel but was mainly used for pleasure trips along the River Seine. Unfortunately, Napier and Manby’s sailing company was declared bankrupt in 1827. The paddle steamer Aaron Manby was sold in 1830, along with the company's other boats, to a French consortium "Compagnie des bateaux a vapeur en fer". The Aaron Manby then operated on the River Loire until the 1850s. It was broken up for scrap in 1855.

In 1972 the Black Country Society produced bronze and silver medallions to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the building of the Aaron Manby.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 51168