World's Largest Gold Coronation Medal, Originally Produced by Spink, Returns for Sale
On 30th November 2006 Spink will offer the magnificent Gold Coronation Medal 1911, from the King Farouk Collection. The world’s largest gold coronation medal, and one of the largest gold medals of any description ever made, has reappeared on the market after 50 years. It is estimated at £12,000-15,000
This patriotic and beautiful medal was designed by the eminent British Artist, Frank Bowcher and produced by Spink. It is believed that only one gold example of the large 1911 Coronation medal was created. The ornate brochure that accompanied the Coronation medal in 1911 can be found in the Spink archives with the original order form [pictures available]. In the brochure there is a letter from Arthur Bigge of Buckingham Palace to the Managing Director of Spink dated 25th March:
Dear Sir,
The specimen medals which you forwarded to me yesterday have been submitted to the King, who thought they were very good, and His Majesty expressed his approval of their design and execution.
Yours very faithfully,
(signed) Arthur Bigge
The King Farouk Collection
The medal was last seen at the famous ‘Palace Collections of Egypt’ sale in 1954. The coins and medals section of this mammoth auction stretched for nine days between 24th February and 6th March. The collection of many thousands of coins, medals and banknotes totaled an astounding 2798 lots. The lotting, cataloguing, viewing and the auction itself were all undertaken with considerable haste under less than ideal conditions in the Kouddeb Palace, Cairo. The cataloguers were not allowed to remove any of the coins for research and the photographs were taken under very precarious conditions. The introduction states ‘Those responsible for the preparation of the plates found that the taking of accurate plaster casts of coins was impossible in Cairo for technical reasons; they had to resort to technical photography.’ The writing of the catalogue and the viewing took place under intense security with armed guards standing at every entrance and guards with drawn scimitars standing inside some of the rooms. Legends about this curious time are plenty and it is even said that guards would amuse themselves by playing football with the Faberge eggs up for sale.
The conditions under which people participated in the auction were like no auction before or to come. One had to pay to view, and leave a deposit one day in advance against items they wished to bid on (or have a letter of guaranteed funds from a local bank) and no lots were returnable. This was a situation in which everything had to be sold.
The Bowcher gold medal was lot 2653 described as:
‘England, George V and Mary, issued at the time of the Coronation 1911, by F. Bowcher, rev. Coronation scene, GOD SAVE THE KING above, HOMAGE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1911, wt. 764 grms. Extremely fine and very rare, marked No. 1 on edge.’
The medal sold for £457 (£435, plus 5% surcharge).
Story and image courtesy of http://www.spink.com
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