Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Royal Academy of Music, award medals by J. Pinches (5), in bronze (2), named (Denis J. Mathews, Harmony, 1936...Pianoforte, 1936), silver (3), named (Denis Matthews, Harmony, 1937...Musical Composition, 1937...Pianoforte, 1937), all 41mm; Worshipful Company of Musicians, a silver award medal by C.B. Birch, named (Denis Matthews), 55mm (MJP p.231; cf. DNW 134, 560), together with the accompanying silver miniature, 24mm; Royal Academy of Music, Carlo Albanesi Medal, a silver award by J. Pinches, named (Denis Matthews, 1939), 65mm (MJP –); Worshipful Company of Musicians, Cobbett Medal, a gilt award by G. Bayes for Pinches, named (Denis Matthews, 1972), 45mm (Irvine/Atterbury p.139); together with ITALY, Death of Arturo Toscanini, 1957, a bronze medal by S. Johnson, 60mm [10]. Last extremely fine, others in mint state, the Albanesi award set in silver rim with glazed lunettes; the Matthews medals in cases of issue, his Worshipful Company of Musicians medals in gilt-blocked Royal Mint case of issue, lid inscribed ‘Presented to Denis Matthews by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, 25th October 1938’ £200-300

Denis James Matthews (1919-88), pianist and musicologist; b. Coventry; educ. Arnold Lodge, Leamington Spa, and Warwick; studied at the Royal Academy of Music 1936-40; served in the RAF in World War II; concert pianist; Professor of Music at Newcastle University 1971-84; taught at the Birmingham School of Music, 1984-8; committed suicide on Christmas Day 1988