Coins, Tokens, Historical Medals, Cabinets & Books

Inauguration of Aston Hall, Birmingham, 1858, white metal medals (7), by J. Moore (2), diademed head of Victoria left, legend around and below, revs. frontal elevation of the Hall, 56 and 45mm (W & E 778A.1, 779A.1; BHM 2613-14); by T. Ottley (4), bare head of Victoria right (2), revs. frontal elevation of the Hall and crowned conjoined shields, both 74mm, conjoined heads of Victoria and Albert left, rev. frontal elevation of the Hall, 74mm, bare head of Victoria left, legend around, rev. frontal elevation of the Hall, 46mm; and by J. Pinches, coronetted head of Victoria left, rev. legend within wreath, 42mm (W & E 781A.1, 781B.1, 782A.1, 784A.1; BHM 2615-18); together with Chronology of the Reigns of England, a white metal medal by T. Ottley, bare head of Victoria left, details of reigns from 1066 around, 65mm (W & E 786A.1; BHM 2619) [8]. Extremely fine and better; contained in a brown fitted leather case, lid decorated in gilt with aston hall birmingham divided by Royal arms; a most attractive presentation set, perhaps made for a civic dignitary, the inside of the lid with a modern ownership inscription in pen £300-400

Illustration reduced. Aston Hall, built in 1635, together with its associated 43 acres of parkland, was purchased for £40,000 by the people of Birmingham, and officially opened as a place of public recreation by Queen Victoria on 15 June 1858. The only other such set noted by the cataloguer was sold by DNW in June 2001 for £330 hammer