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Auction: 24123 - British and World Coins and Medals featuring the Pritchard Collection of 18th Century Provincial Tokens and Commemorative Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 1006

Coronation of Victoria, AR Medal, 1838, by unknown, VICTORIA ASCENDED THE BRITISH THRONE JUNE 20 1837 IN THE 19 YEAR OF HER AGE, diademed bust left, rev. CORONATION, Queen enthroned holding orb and sceptre, with foot on lion, Commerce, Britannia, Justice and Plenty around, AT WESTMINSTER JUNE 28 1838 in exergue in two lines, plain edge, 51mm, 50.24g (BHM 1842), minor hairlining in the fields, otherwise with a rich cabinet tone in hues of blue and red, speckled across the portrait, with lustrous fields and about as struck

The Pritchard Collection of 18th Century Provincial Tokens and Commemorative Medals



There was a grand procession in the golden State Coach along a route designed to allow as many people as possible to get a sighting of the Queen. She was gazed upon with affectionate regard, and people cheered out of every window and from every balcony and roof. Victoria seemed to have been affected by the outpouring of joy, turning to the Duchess of Sutherland on occasion to hide her emotion.



However, the service was not without its pitfalls and was what historian Roy Strong called "the last of the botched Coronations". The Coronation lasted five hours and was very badly rehearsed which resulted in Victoria being told the ceremony was over by a confused bishop, who then had to "hastily retriev[e]" her to continue. Victoria notes two other mishaps in her personal diaries. The first was that of the Coronation ring being placed on the wrong finger which she had "the greatest difficulty to take [...] off again", the other when the elderly peer Lord Rolle fell down steps whilst trying to make homage to the Queen. The Queen recalls how when he attempted it for a second time, she "advanced to the edge, in order to prevent another fall".
Outside the Abbey, the public celebrated in almighty style. The newly built railways had allowed some 400,000 visitors to come to London to see the procession, and the Coronation coincided with a period of pleasant weather. Hyde Park was transformed into a huge fair, which ended up being extended from two days to four due to popularity. There was a balloon ascent and Green Park featured a firework display. Any mistakes within Westminster Abbey certainly did not dampen the mood outside. Queen Victoria recalled her Coronation as the "proudest moment of [her] life."


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