Rare Peninsular War Group - Sir George R. Bingham

This lot consists of the Army Gold Cross, Army Gold Medal, Order of the Bath (neck badge and breast badge), and the Order of the Tower & Sword; all awarded to Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham. Sir Bingham was a well-respected officer who served the British Army's 53rd Regiment of Foot in the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars.

After the ultimate defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, Sir Bingham was stationed in St. Helena with the rank of Brigadier General to command the troops guarding Napoleon in his second exile. Three of these exact medals can be seen in the portrait of General Bingham by William Henry Pickersgill that hangs in the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Hampshire, U.K.

These awards were a part of the collection of the late Naval Academy historian Jack Sweetman, who is believed to have purchased the medals from Spink & Sons in London. This is a unique opportunity to own one of the rarest medals ever awarded, exemplified by the fact that was struck in almost 90 grams of 18k gold.

Army Gold Cross:
This exquisite medal is one of only 163 awarded to senior officers in the British military for successful campaigns between 1808 and 1814, but mostly in the Peninsular War. Struck in nearly 90 grasms of solid 18k gold, this cross features the Barbary Lion in the center and each arm of the cross is engraved with one of the four actions for which the cross was awarded.

Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham's cross was awarded for the Battles of the Pyrenees, Vittoria, Talavera, and Salamanca. Sir Bingham was also present at the Second Battle of Porto towards the beginning of the Peninsular War.

This cross features a bar on the ribbon for an additional action at the Battle of Nivelle. Around the edges of the cross, it is engraved "Col. Geo. R. Bingham 53rd Foot".
Approximate size: 38mm (cross itself)
Approximate weight: 89.9 g

Army Gold Medal:
This exquisite medal is one of 596 awarded to senior officers in the British military for successful campaigns between 1808 and 1814, but mostly in the Peninsular War. Struck in solid 18k gold, with a 14k bezel and ribbon connector, the medal features a seated Brittania holding a laurel wreath and shield, next to a Barbary lion on the front.

The back features a laurel wreath with the first battle for which it was awarded (Talavera) and the year (1809) inside. The ribbon features two clasps for additional actions at Vittoria and Salamanca. Sir Bingham's name, rank at the time, and regiment are inscribed around the edge of the bezel. The medal is glazed, as issued.

Approximate size: 33mm
Approximate weight: 72g

Order of the Bath Neck and Breast Badges:
18k gold neck badge and sterling silver breast star for a Military Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Awarded to Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham. The neck badge hallmarks indicate it was made in 1814, and the breast star's flat edges also fit this time period.

Approximate size: 53mm (neck badge, across), 70mm (breast star)
Approximate weight: 57.8g (neck badge), 54g (breast star)

Order of the Tower & Sword:
Portuguese Order of the Tower & Sword awarded by the king of Portugal, John VI, to Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham for his service in the Peninsular War. Under the command of the Duke of Wellington, Sir Bingham led the second battalion of the 53rd Foot in battle as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Battle of Porto, as well as several battles in Spain.

Approximate size: 40mm
Approximate weight: 19g