An interesting find. Anyone know more about this?
This is an interesting bit of ephemera I was first made aware of last year by the wonderful Sir Gerald of Reece who has one of these, and I’d really like (as would he) to know more about it.
This is a medallion awarded by the Brownhills Coronation Committee in honour of the coronation of King George V in 1911.
I think the hole was made with a knife and fork! Not even deburred. Curious.
The medallion is 38mm (1½ inches) diameter, and one side shows the King and Queen, with ‘His Majesty King George V & her Majesty Queen Mary’ around the edge; the other side says ‘Presented by the Brownhills Coronation Committee to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary June 22nd 1911’ surrounded by laurels. It feels like it’s made from pewter or a similar cheap metal.
Interestingly, the hole on the rim for hanging is very roughly punched. My version came without the ribbon, which on Gerald’s is red, white and blue.
Gerald’s medallion in a very cranky photo. I don’t think it was taken in a nightclub, but it looks like it was. Oh dear.
I do owe an apology to Gerald, who kindly brought his example to the talk he gave last autumn in Brownhills, and the photographer (who shall remain nameless) had a camera malfunction, so I was at a bit of a loss to do the article.
Since then, I’ve found another one in an antique shop in Lichfield, which I purchased and feature here. What we’re after is what were the medallions given for and to whom, were they a national thing, or just local? Who were the Committee? What was their function?
There were celebrations in Brownhills (as of course here were all over the UK) for the coronation; thankfully, we have a couple of photos, and it looked like a real party…
Please, if you know anything about these medallions, or the Coronation Committee, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
Two images seemingly minutes apart of the 1911 Coronation parade as it passed the Warreners Arms headed towards Anchor Bridge. Image from ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.