Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Corporation of the City of London MedalsCORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON MEDALSBy Ken TraubThe City of London Corporation is an unusual elected municipal body which predateslocal government and Parliament, and whose primary charge is managing the squaremile historic business district center of London around St Paul’s Cathedral. The primaryreference for “City of London” medals is still Numismata Londinensia, Medals Struck bythe Corporation of London to Commemorate Important Municipal Events 1831 to 1893 byCharles Welch; London, 1894. [A 2011 reproduction paperback is available at Amazon.comfor $25.] More recently two references, British Historical Medals by Laurence Brown, andBritish Commemorative Medals and their values by Christopher Eimer provide excellentinformation as well. The best online source for photos and information can be found fromBenjamin Weiss’ collection at: http://www.historicalartmedals.com/TOC.htm (then click:England/City of London Medals). There were thirty medals issued between 1831 and1902, and only a few more during the later 20 th century. Most of the 19 th century medalswere of high relief, finely detailed, 3 inch copper-bronzed, and designed and executedby the Wyon family including Benjamin and his sons Joseph, Alfred and Allan. WilliamWyon, a cousin of Benjamin Wyon and Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint, also executedthe fifth issue, the 1837 “Visit of Queen Victoria to the Guildhall”. Other notable issuemedalists included Charles Wiener, George Adams, Anton Scharff, Frank Bowcher, andGeorge Frampton.This commemorative medal series is considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing andwell-executed one that exists, and this, combined with its scarcity, especially in choicecondition, makes it highly collectable. Typical mintages were usually 350 to 450 medals.Most of the medals were issued in lined and fitted leather boxes which were printed withinformation about the commemorated event. A small number were issued for presentationsas double medal boxes designed to simultaneously exhibit the obverse and reverse. Allof these boxes in good condition are even scarcer than the medals, especially the doubleboxes. My all-time favorite medal being offered here is the 1887 Commemoration of theJubilee of Queen Victoria in its original box of issue. The obverse shows the conjoinedbusts of Victoria from her 1837 coronation with her 1887 Jubilee portrait. The reverseshows the delightful fantasy of Britannia standing in a roman chariot being drawn by twoBritish lions, with Justice and Wisdom at her sides.Collecting these magnificent medals for close to 40 years has provided me with the greatenjoyment of the hunt, of learning the history of the period and commemorated events, aswell as the pleasure of many viewings, and of having been their historical custodian. Mayyou long admire and equally enjoy any medal you win in this auction.Ken Traub89H