Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24123 - British and World Coins and Medals featuring the Pritchard Collection of 18th Century Provincial Tokens and Commemorative Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 1032

Diamond Jubilee of Victoria, Official 'Large' AR Medal, 1897, by G. W. de Saulles after T. Brock for the Royal Mint, VICTORIA ANNVM REGNI SEXAGESIMVM FELICITER CLADVIT XX, draped and diademed bust left, rev. LONGITVDO SIERVM ET IN SINISTRA EIVS GLORIA, young head left, dividing inscription, 1837 below, edge plain, 56mm, 84.88g, (Eimer 1817b; BHM 3506), appealing halo toning on both sides but especially obverse, matte fields, practically as struck

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



Queen Victoria was also the first British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, prompting cause for a subsequent series of medals to mark the unprecedented national event. The second medal in this lot depicts the monarch of 60 years alongside the future kings Edward VII, George V and Edward VIII. As much as it was a historic and unprecedented occasion, it was also seen by some to be a political opportunity, to promote the idea of a global celebration fit for a monarch who ruled over 450 million people.



On 22nd June 1897, the aging Queen drove to St Paul's Cathedral where a Thanksgiving service was set to take place. At this late stage in her life, Victoria was struggling with severe arthritis and was therefore unable to climb the steps; as a result, the short service was delivered outside of the building. The Queen detailed her emotion when watching the crowds during the procession, calling their enthusiasm "truly marvellous and deeply touching. The cheering was quite deafening, and every face seemed to be filled with real joy."



Street feasts took place in large cities from London to Manchester, where free ale and tobacco was given out by Thomas Lipton; beacons across the UK were lit; there was both a garden party and a state banquet to mark the occasion and memorial fountains and towers were erected across the British Empire to mark the occasion. One newspaper wrote that "From one end of the land to the other, and indeed wherever the British flag flies, the day was marked in a special manner."


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£140

Starting price
£100