My 2 medals...

[Master Jmd]

I have a 1902 and a 1937 coronation medal...;

Edward VII 1902

Strange this one, never seen one like it; Obv. says: 'Edward VII Queen Alexandra' around Edward's and Alexandra's heads. Rev. says: (what looks like) 'Cop Coronations 1902' in center, (worn and hard to read-) 'Ted Tion Droit', (around right edge -) 'God save the king' and with a wreath of 19 leaves going up the left edge. Looks silver, same size as a crown.

George VI MCMXXXVII (1937)

Second one needing identification; Obv. says: 'George VI Elizabeth Crowned May XII' around George's and Elizabeth's heads. Rev. says: 'Canada India Africa Australia New Zeeland Britain' around edge, with a picture of a man/woman holding a Crown with a bird above the crown holding a wreath of 4 leaves. Looks bronze, with a gold colour, about the same size of a modern two pence coin.

[Geoff T]

You need to bear in mind that in the 20th century there are usually three types of commemorative coronation medals. At the top are the official ones struck as award medals to be given to the dignitaries, officials and so forth who attended the ceremony or were otherwise deemed worthy by the king or queen to be awarded a medal. There's usually a separate variety of these as well for police. The standard design of these is the king and/or queen on the obverse and the royal cypher on the reverse. Award medals command the highest price as there are fewer of them (although we're still talking 1000s rather than 100s).

Next down are the official ones struck by the Royal Mint for sale to the public. These, like the above, were often designed, at least in part, by the same people who were responsible for coins. De Saulles. for instance, did the Edward VII ones. These medals usually have the king on one side and the queen on the other. The one designed for Edward VIII but never issued had a different design on the reverse as there was no queen consort. The problem didn't arise with Elizabeth II as there was no official medal except the award medal.

At the bottom, and by far the most numerous, are the unofficial medals produced for sale to the public. In 1902, for instance, every local authority produced their own design and these are very common. Many would have been given to e.g. schoolchildren. Most are anonymous, although some use a common obverse by a named designer such as Emil Fuchs. These medals are usually in base metal.

What you have sounds like medals in the third category. They won't be worth more than a few pounds, although they may well be attractive items in their own right. All the Edward VII medals will have the date 26 June 1902 on them, as this was the planned date of the coronation. In the end it was postponed until 9 August as the king had appendicitis. The official public medal by De Saulles has the correct date. It's quite common in both silver and bronze (I have both).

A picture of your Edward VII would be useful to clarify the inscription. The inscription on your George VI refers to the Dominions within the British Empire - a common design.

Hope this helps.

[Master Jmd]

A picture of your Edward VII would be useful to clarify the inscription. The inscription on your George VI refers to the Dominions within the British Empire - a common design.

Thanks Geoff. i have tried to take pictures of it before, but as the medal is dented the quality was not very good...i will try though