Latest token/medal
farthing
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The following token/medal arrived today - my latest winning from eBay. Catalogued in British Historical Medals as BHM 295 and as a Conder token by Dalton and Hamer as Middlesex National Series D&H 177. The medal was released in Silver, Copper, Gilt Copper and White Medal.
The following are the sellers pics:
I fugured that I had an good shot at the token being silver with white metal being the other choice.
This is what I received. My attempt at photography:
I was quite pleasently surprised to receive a gilt copper token! All for $9.50!
A bit of background, the token/medal was struck in 1789 by John Milton following George III's visit to St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate his recovery from a bout of 'madness' (much to the great displeasure of the Prince of Wales - son George, who had been trying to gain control of the throne by being declared Prince Regent). His recovery was widely celebrated because the people despised the Prince due to his debauchery and gambling - Parliament had bailed him out of massive debt on more than 1 occasion.
R. C. Bell wrote the following in his book Political and Commemorative Pieces Simulating Tradesmen's Tokens 1770-1802 on the visit:
"On the 23rd of April, the king, accompanied by the queen, the princesses, his brothers the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland, and his sons, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and Prince William... proceeded in solemn procession to St. Paul's Cathedral. A long line of splendid equipages contained the members of the House of Lords, the members of the House of Commons, the great officers of state, the Judges, the Masters in Chancery, and others. Conspicuous above the rest were the King's state-coach, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, and the state-coaches of the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons. The densely crowded streets, along which the procession passed were lined by the military; by the Foot Guards as far as Temple Bar; and by the Artillery Company and the City militia from Temple Bar to St. Paul's Cathedral. The spectacle was enhanced by the ringing of church bells, the roar of cannon from the Tower and St. James's Park, and the shouts of thousands.
At Temple Bar the Lord Mayor in his robe of crimson velvet, attended by the Sherriffs and the Aldermen in their scarlet gowns, presented him, using the ancient formalities, with the Sword of the City of London. On reaching St. Paul's the surrounding area of which was patrolled by the Horse Guards, the King entered the cathedral walking between the Bishops of London and Lincoln; the Marquis of Stafford carrying before him the Sword of State.
At this moment the voices of five thousand children, in one great chorus, produced such an effect on the king that he covered his face with his handkerchief. He remarked to the Bishop of Lincoln; "I now feel that I have been ill". He soon recovered his composure and took his seat with the Queen under a canopy of state near the altar, preserving complete calm thoughout the ceremony. Opposite him, as the sons of peers, sat Fox and Fitzpatrick, and behind them Pitt. Nearer still to him sat the Prince of Wales and the Princes of the Blood, whose conduct during the ceremony is described as having been in the highest degree irreverent, if not indecent. Their behaviour appears to have been unnoticed by the king, as on handing the Queen into her carriage, his was smilling and appeared to be happy.
The Prince of Wales lost his temper in the City when some of his partisans attempted to raise a popular demonstration on his behalf, but this resulted in even louder acclaiming of the king. At St. Paul's the prince was in the worst possible humour and made it known to all present."
It's interesting to look at the parallels between this ceremony and that which just took place today in Washington!
The following are the sellers pics:
I fugured that I had an good shot at the token being silver with white metal being the other choice.
This is what I received. My attempt at photography:
I was quite pleasently surprised to receive a gilt copper token! All for $9.50!
A bit of background, the token/medal was struck in 1789 by John Milton following George III's visit to St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate his recovery from a bout of 'madness' (much to the great displeasure of the Prince of Wales - son George, who had been trying to gain control of the throne by being declared Prince Regent). His recovery was widely celebrated because the people despised the Prince due to his debauchery and gambling - Parliament had bailed him out of massive debt on more than 1 occasion.
R. C. Bell wrote the following in his book Political and Commemorative Pieces Simulating Tradesmen's Tokens 1770-1802 on the visit:
"On the 23rd of April, the king, accompanied by the queen, the princesses, his brothers the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland, and his sons, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and Prince William... proceeded in solemn procession to St. Paul's Cathedral. A long line of splendid equipages contained the members of the House of Lords, the members of the House of Commons, the great officers of state, the Judges, the Masters in Chancery, and others. Conspicuous above the rest were the King's state-coach, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, and the state-coaches of the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons. The densely crowded streets, along which the procession passed were lined by the military; by the Foot Guards as far as Temple Bar; and by the Artillery Company and the City militia from Temple Bar to St. Paul's Cathedral. The spectacle was enhanced by the ringing of church bells, the roar of cannon from the Tower and St. James's Park, and the shouts of thousands.
At Temple Bar the Lord Mayor in his robe of crimson velvet, attended by the Sherriffs and the Aldermen in their scarlet gowns, presented him, using the ancient formalities, with the Sword of the City of London. On reaching St. Paul's the surrounding area of which was patrolled by the Horse Guards, the King entered the cathedral walking between the Bishops of London and Lincoln; the Marquis of Stafford carrying before him the Sword of State.
At this moment the voices of five thousand children, in one great chorus, produced such an effect on the king that he covered his face with his handkerchief. He remarked to the Bishop of Lincoln; "I now feel that I have been ill". He soon recovered his composure and took his seat with the Queen under a canopy of state near the altar, preserving complete calm thoughout the ceremony. Opposite him, as the sons of peers, sat Fox and Fitzpatrick, and behind them Pitt. Nearer still to him sat the Prince of Wales and the Princes of the Blood, whose conduct during the ceremony is described as having been in the highest degree irreverent, if not indecent. Their behaviour appears to have been unnoticed by the king, as on handing the Queen into her carriage, his was smilling and appeared to be happy.
The Prince of Wales lost his temper in the City when some of his partisans attempted to raise a popular demonstration on his behalf, but this resulted in even louder acclaiming of the king. At St. Paul's the prince was in the worst possible humour and made it known to all present."
It's interesting to look at the parallels between this ceremony and that which just took place today in Washington!
R.I.P. Wayne, Brad
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
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Comments
Have you thought about uploading some photos of your traders' currency tokens here?
That is an amazing story about the St. Paul's,London visit medals.If you had the copper one,you'd definitely make my eyes really pop open.
Aidan.
<< <i>A bit of background, the token/medal was struck in 2009 by John Milton >>
1789? or is this a replica?
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
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