Curator & Collector

Victoria  jubilee  medallion

This is a medallion I bought a long time ago, I think on Ebay, for a few dollars. The relief of the bust is much higher than that of an ordinary Canadian coin (but see the Royal Canadian Mint’s new Vignettes of Royalty series!). There is some dirt on the reverse that appears to have been left over from a cleaning; the dirt suggests the medallion lay, like Gollum’s ring, in a mudpool for some time. The obverse reads “GOD BLESS OUR QUEEN” and “1837 1897.” The word “EMPRESS” is clearly visible on the crown. The reverse contains a delightfully unapologetic inscription: “60 YEARS PEACE POWER PROSPERITY AND POWER IN CANADA.”

I have often wondered as who made this medallion, and when–the thought has occasionally crossed my mind that it might not have been made in the time period in which it purports to be from. If any readers know of a resource that catalogues this, please leave a comment. Thanks!