Follow up on 1889 Royal Agricultural Society Exhibition at Windsor
theboz11
Posts: 6,576 ✭✭✭
This medal was struck to mark the Royal Agricultural Society Exhibition at Windsor in 1889. The show was held in Windsor Great Park from the 24th to 29th of June 1889. The Prince of Wales acted on behalf of Queen Victoria who was President of the Society for that year. The Queen attended on the 27th and 28th and also knighted the Director of the Show on the 30th. The medal is hollow and was made in two halves, making this an unusual British medal for that period. It was designed and executed by Countess F. Gleichen. The reference for the medal is BHM#3379 and is shown only as being struck in bronze. It is also designated as very rare. 77mm dia and it weighs 114.3grams. It has a NAVY blue leather medal case... on the top it has a gilt CROWN.
After I got this, I checked it with my electronic Gold tester and it indicated 22kt solid GOLD. It was most likely presented to the Director when he was Knighted by the Queen making this unique or at a minimum undocumented and 4 ounces of Gold.
I emailed Spink Auction house for information and this is the reply from Mr. Richard Bishop.
"Dear Mr Boswell
Thank you for this message. I did not know of a gold medal for this
event (and as you say it is not listed in gold in BHM so nor did
Laurence Brown). It is not unusual however for silver and gold examples
of this type of medal to surface. I have made enquiries, and the
librarian at the Royal Agricultural Society is looking into it. Perhaps
he will find some information in the society's archives. You may be
right that just a single example was made in gold. I will let you know
if we hear anything of interest.
In the meantime, were you considering selling the medal? We would of
course be delighted to offer it in an auction here in London.
Richard Bishop
Auction Department"
More to follow as I get some pedigree for this piece
After I got this, I checked it with my electronic Gold tester and it indicated 22kt solid GOLD. It was most likely presented to the Director when he was Knighted by the Queen making this unique or at a minimum undocumented and 4 ounces of Gold.
I emailed Spink Auction house for information and this is the reply from Mr. Richard Bishop.
"Dear Mr Boswell
Thank you for this message. I did not know of a gold medal for this
event (and as you say it is not listed in gold in BHM so nor did
Laurence Brown). It is not unusual however for silver and gold examples
of this type of medal to surface. I have made enquiries, and the
librarian at the Royal Agricultural Society is looking into it. Perhaps
he will find some information in the society's archives. You may be
right that just a single example was made in gold. I will let you know
if we hear anything of interest.
In the meantime, were you considering selling the medal? We would of
course be delighted to offer it in an auction here in London.
Richard Bishop
Auction Department"
More to follow as I get some pedigree for this piece
0
Comments
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
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Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
How many of us would love to grab gold at well below it's normal price?
And how many would love to grab it as an historical moment as well? Not to mention in mint state and a gorgeous engraving job to boot?
Nicely done...!
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato