 East India Company Fort William College Honorary Medal, 1809. Gold, 44.7mm, 51. 36 grams. Choice About Uncirculated. Puddester 800.2. Obv. Rays illuminate facades of Muslim Mosque, Hindu Pagoda with palms, sea and sailing ship behind. Latin motto REDDIT A NOBIS AURORA DIEMQUE REDUCIT, Dawn fades and Day Succeeds to Us. Rev. Laurel wreath encloses legend .COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM FEBy. VI MDCCCIX, HONORARY/ MEDAL. Puddester plate medal is dated MDCCCVII (1807), and the present medal proves that ''the Type II medals were dated the year awarded.'' Plain edge, boldly lustrous. (Est. $1,000-$1,500)
In his Medals of British India, Vol. I, Robert P. Puddester records that the College of Fort William was founded near Calcutta by Governor-General the Marquess of Wellesley in 1800. It was to provide higher education to young men serving the E.I.C. through a three-year course in Indian languages, law and history. The Company's Court of Directors had not been consulted and promptly transferred most college functions to Haileybury, Herts. Only the language instruction continued at Fort William, to serve only the Bengal Presidency until 1854.
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