Medals

The Royal Medal for Astronomy is presented each year by the Royal Society for distinguished contributions to the applied sciences.

Although an auction house since 1918, stamps specialist Harmers is a relative newcomer to the London numismatic sales.

A group of medals awarded to the great scientist, explorer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was fiercely contested at auction last week, hammered down for a £273,000 (or £327,600 with buyer’s premium) total against a high estimate of £80,900.

Spotlight on honours sold recently includes courageous lifesavers from civilian backgrounds.

A suffragette’s true identity may have been uncovered by an auction house.

A recent sale at Bentley’s (19% buyer’s premium) in Cranbrook, Kent included a rare US Presidential lifesaving medallion.

The 1702 Accession of Queen Anne medal is not uncommon in copper and silver but very rare in gold.

A large collection of tokens and badges relating to Sheffield comes to market at the Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals auction on July 6-7 at London saleroom Dix Noonan Webb.

A group of 56 medals awarded to pioneering photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (1853-1941) is heading back to the area he covered in his evocative images.

A gold medal proclaiming Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England – the only known example in private hands – comes for sale in Switzerland.

In the absence of face-to-face contact, 2020 was a difficult year for the numismatics market as a whole... but the auction business found a way to thrive.

Albrecht Dürer’s medal dedicated to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, is among the most important medals of the Northern Renaissance. As only four are known to commerce, the appearance of one for sale is significant.

MADAM – Here is a medal whose origin I can’t figure out (above). It was found in northern Norway.

“A truly beautiful medal and a royal provenance make this something quite out of the ordinary. And, without hesitation, we can say that it is unique.” Stephen Fenton, specialist at Baldwin’s of St James’s, singled out a George IV accession medal as a highlight of the Peter Earthy collection.

Marcus Budgen is to head the Spink medals department after the departure of David Erskine-Hill.

The Zulu War medal awarded to Driver Charles Robson, batman to commanding officer Lieutenant John Chard during the epic defence of Rorke’s Drift, sold for £110,000 at Dix Noonan Webb on March 2.