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Auction: 8019 - Ancient, English, Foreign Coins & Commemorative Medals
Lot: 299

Visit of Queen Victoria to the City of London, 1837, a set of four medals, in silver, copper, silver gilt, and ´german silver´, by William Wyon, victoria regina, diademed head left, rev. façade of the Guildhall, the Royal Standard flying above, in honour of her majesty´s visit to the corporation of london 9th nov: 1837 in exergue, 54mm. (BHM 1775; E.1304; W.5), extremely fine, the silver medal rare, the silver gilt medal extremely rare, a superb original set in four different metals, the only set recorded and possibly unique, in fitted case (4) Estimate £ 1,200-1,500 It seems that specimens of medals in various metals were specially prepared by William Wyon, for his private use. In British Historical Medals Laurence Brown notes ´´A record of the private medals struck by the Chief Engraver (Public Records Office MINT 3/24) notes various quantities of medals being struck by Wyon without specifying the metal; they are 1837, 14 Nov. 400; 1838, 10 July, 500, 26 September, 500; 29 October, 200. In ´´a statement of private works struck at the Great Die Press for the Chief Engraver without the assistance of the men in the die press room, also of the evenings, Mr James Wyon had the keys of the Die Press after the men had left the mint´´ (PRO mint 3/28) notes that ´´25 copper medals ´´Queen´´s Visit to the City´´ were struck on November 25th 1837´´.,´´ Wyon´´s celebrated portrait of the young Queen was also the basis for Sir Henry Corbold´´s design for the Penny Black postage stamp.

Sold for
£5,500