artnouveau

postwar

Gold Medals

Coinage through the ages has served the function both of currency (a store and measurement of value) and of medallic proclamation (dissemination of official information).

Is a Ptolemaic octodrachm or a multiple aurei of Constantine a coin or a medallion? The distinction would have been irrelevant to any society for whom money or currency was defined by the weight and purity of precious metal.

However, in our present era of unchecked government issue of paper and electronic money, there is a vast confusion as to the nature of currency. Currency is now a measurement of value and a "promise" of value - rather than a store of value. Thus Currency is now a form of debt.

This has led to the confused distinction that modern collectors hold between medallic issues and currency. Until our current era, medals have always been worth exactly their weight in precious metal - just like coins.

Many Royal Proclamation medals were crafted by some of the greatest artists of their era. They often are sculpted in high relief, in tiny mintages, to mark interesting and important historical events.

And they currently trade at a tiny fraction of similarly weighted common issue coins.

.............................................................................ROYAL GOLD PAGE 1

Great Britain, George IV, (1820-1830) Proof official gold coronation medal, 1821, (36 g) by B. Pistrucci, laur. bust l., rev. king enthroned, crowned by Victory before him stand Britannia, Hibernia and Scotia (Eimer 1146)
From a mintage of 1040 - another extremely rare proof piece, presumably a piece presented to the King, Queen and a few other VIPS.

Nearly Uncirculated................sold

Great Britain, William IV
(1830-37), AV official gold coronation medal, (27.5gms) 1831, by William Wyon, bare head of the King righ, rev. diademed bust of the Queen right (BHM 1475, Eimer 1251),
From a mintage of 1000.

AU-UNC...........................$3300

Great Britain, Edward VII,
1902-1910. ofiicila gold medallion for the Coronation, 1902, by De Saulles, crowned bust of king r., rev. crowned bust of queen Alexandra r., date on ribbon below, 31mm, (17.3gms) (Eimer 1871)
From a mintage of 9,850

AU.................................sold

George V, Coronation, 1911, large gold medal by Bertram Mackennel, , 51mm., (87.2g). (BHM.4022 note), the fields brilliant, small mark behind Queen's head, extremely rare, in (superb) red leather case of issue. 719 Large Gold medals minted, however:

"This piece is one of the very small number of examples of this medal that were stuck on polished blanks from polished dies (as opposed to the usual matt finish) that were presented to the King and Queen and possibly a few other VIPs." (quoted from Spink).
BRILLIANT PROOF UNC....POR

Great Britain, George V and Queen Mary,

(1910-36) Coronation 1911, official issue Gold Medal, by B. Mackennal, crowned bust of King left, rev crowned bust of Queen left, (BHM 4022; E 1922). 32mm (16.8 gm)

Matte UNC..........................$1200

Great Britain, George V and Queen Mary

Silver Jubilee 1935, (23.46gm) official royal mint issue gold medal by Percy Metcalf, BHM 4249, Eimer 2029
Very Rare, from a mintage of 240 pieces.

Lilght surface marks, large edge bump at 4 o'clock on reverse. Otherwise,
EF....................................$1350

ETHIOPIA, HAILE SELLASIE, official gold coronation medal, (1928), 32mm (18.79 gm), EE 1921 F:  Facing bust of Ras Tafari wearing a ducal coronet with regal robe.  R:  Inscriptions in Amharic: "Crown Prince King Tafari of the Ethiopian Kingdom" Center: "With full authority as Ras (Prince), Maskaram 27th day EE 1921" = October 8, 1928.  Commemorates the elevation of Ras Tafari from Regent to Negus or King.  Struck at Addis Ababa. Very Sarce.

AU/UNC.........................$1500

Great Britain, George VI

(1936-1952)
Coronation, official small Gold Medal, (23.34g,) 1937, by P. Metcalfe, the official Royal Mint issue, 32mm, (BHM 4314).

a few light marks, Brilliant prooflike UNC.........................$1800

Great Britain, Elizabeth

(1952 -) Coronation of Elizabeth II 1953. AV 32 mm. Elizabeth crowned and draped Erv. View of Buckingham Palace, by Spink and Son. Eimer 2086.

Prooflike UNC......................$1450

VATICAN CITY, Paul VI,
Sovereign and Pope, (1963-1978)

Gold Medal 1963 marking Paul as the Pope presiding over the second session of the Second Vatican Council, after the death of John XXIII, who had convened the council in 1962. Obv signed by the artist Lallo Scorelli, Rev signed by E. Senesi

45mm (52.68gm) edge marked .750 (18 karat) fine gold. Rare.

Matte UNC............................$2800

FRANCE Premier Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, 1804-1814.

1804 Coronation of Napoleon (1.98g) 13mm. By Dennon and Jeuffroy Laureate head Denn Jeuf below Napoleon stadg on shield held by senator and soldier.

AU....................$625

France, Premier Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, 1804-1814.

1810 Marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria- 14mm (2.2g.) Conjoined busts signed by the artist Andrieu below/ Napoleon and Mary Louise standing holding hands before an altar on which a flame burns.

AU..........................$1100