Struck in bronze as part of James Mudie’s renowned “Series of Medals of British Victories”, this 1815 medal captures the dramatic sequence of Napoleon’s flight from Elba and the Congress of Vienna’s decisive response. Produced around 1820 at Thomason’s Manufactory in Birmingham, it forms one of forty medals that together form a comprehensive medallic chronicle of Britain’s triumphs during the Napoleonic era, originally presented in elegant library cases.

The obverse offers a striking allegory of Napoleon’s escape from exile on 26 February 1815. A French imperial eagle, gripping a thunderbolt, speeds leftward from the distant island of Elba across choppy seas toward the French coast, its dynamic pose conveying urgency and threat. To the left looms the Temple of Janus, its doors forcibly broken open—a classical emblem of war unleashed, signifying the end of the fragile peace that followed Napoleon’s first abdication. The exergue bears the precise date “XXVI. FEBRUARY MDCCCXV.” alongside “MUDIE DIREX. BR.”, crediting James Mudie as director and engraver Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet.

The reverse shifts to Europe’s reaction, with Mercury hovering above a map of northern Europe, his left arm extending a scroll marked “TO ARMS” while his right lowers the winged caduceus. This divine messenger carries the Congress’s urgent call across the continent. The surrounding legend “DECLARATION · OF THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA XIII MARCH.” records the 13 March declaration summoning allied forces, with “J. MUDIE DIREX. DEP. F.” recognising Mudie and engraver Alexis-Joseph Depaulis. The design masterfully links individual events to collective resolve.

Crafted in bronze, the medal develops a rich, warm patina that enhances its high-relief details and neoclassical clarity. It commands an impressive presence while showcasing the collaboration of leading European medallists. As Mudie Series No. 32, it holds a defined place in the original sets, appealing to collectors for its narrative depth, artistic quality and historical precision.

For numismatists, this bronze medal unites dramatic allegory with documented diplomacy, bridging Napoleon’s return and the coalition that defeated him at Waterloo. Its place in Mudie’s ambitious project makes it both a standalone treasure and a key piece in assembling the full series.