Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal 1897
History
The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal 1897 Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal commissioned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria which took place 28 June 1838.
Gold medals were awarded to members of the Royal Family and personal guests. Silver medals went to members of the Royal Household, government ministers, senior officials, certain foreign visitors and naval and army officers involved in the celebrations. Bronze medals went to certain NCOs and other ranks involved in parades of the review at Spithead.
A separate medal was awarded to members of the City of London Police, Metropolitan Police, Police Ambulance, St, John Ambulance Brigade and Metropolitan Fire Brigade who took part in the celebrations and parades. Some 73 gold, 3040 silver and 890 bronze medals were issued in total.
Police Officers who had already received the Golden Jubilee Medal 1887 were awarded the clasp '1897'.
Description
The medal is circular, 30mm in diameter and struck in either gold, silver or bronze. The obverse of this medal bears the crowned bust of Queen Victoria and the inscription; ‘VICTORIA D.G. REGINA ET IMPERATRIX F.D.’.
The reverse contains the inscription; 'IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA 21 JUNE 1897', within a wreath and surmounted with a crown.
The ribbon suspender is a plain ring attached to the medal by a small loop that surmounts the medal.
The medal was issued un-named.
In regards to the police issue, the medal was also circular, 36mm in diameter and struck in bronze. The obverse of this medal bears the head of Queen Victoria and the inscription; 'VICTORIA REGINA'.
There are five different reverses for this award with either the inscription; 'CITY OF LONDON POLICE', 'METROPOLITAN POLICE', 'POLICE AMBULANCE', 'ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE' or 'METROPOLITAN FIRE BRIGADE'.
Within these inscriptions was a wreath encircling the inscription; 'JUBILEE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA' and the date; '1897' below.
The ribbon suspender is of the plain, straight and non-swivelling style attached to the medal via a claw mount.
The recipient’s details can be found on the medal’s rim engraved in upright or sloping capital letters.
Ribbon
General Issue
The ribbon is 32mm wide and white in colour with a blue stripe towards either edge.
Police Issue
The ribbon is 32mm wide and dark blue in colour.
Bars/Clasps
None were authorised for this medal.
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
Dealer Retail Value *
Diamond Jubilee Medal silver issue
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£140.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal bronze issue
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£175.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal Met Police issue
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£35.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal City Police issue
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£75.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal Police Ambulance issue
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£375.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal SJA issue
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£65.00
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Diamond Jubilee Medal Fire Brigade issue
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£65.00
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* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.
Further Historical Context
This section contains information on the following:-
- The Diamond Jubilee Of Queen Victoria
The Diamond Jubilee Of Queen Victoria - On 23 September 1896, Victoria surpassed her grandfather George III as the longest-reigning monarch in English, Scottish, and British history. The Queen requested that any special celebrations be delayed until 1897, to coincide with her Diamond Jubilee, which was made a festival of the British Empire at the suggestion of Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain.
The prime ministers of all the self-governing dominions were invited, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee procession through London included troops from all over the empire. The parade paused for an open-air service of thanksgiving held outside St Paul's Cathedral, throughout which Victoria sat in her open carriage. The celebration was marked by great outpourings of affection for the septuagenarian Queen.
Victoria visited mainland Europe regularly for holidays. In 1889, during a stay in Biarritz, she became the first reigning monarch from Britain to set foot in Spain when she crossed the border for a brief visit. By April 1900, the Boer War was so unpopular in mainland Europe that her annual trip to France seemed inadvisable. Instead, the Queen went to Ireland for the first time since 1861, in part to acknowledge the contribution of Irish regiments to the South African war.
In July, her second son Alfred ('Affie') died; 'Oh, God! My poor darling Affie gone too…', she wrote in her journal. '…It is a horrible year, nothing but sadness and horrors of one kind and another'.