British Medals from the Collection of James Spencer

Miscellaneous Subjects, George III, Recovery from Illness, 1789, a silver-gilt medal by L. Pingo, laureate bust right, rev. West front of St Paul’s Cathedral, named (Benjn. Phillips Steward), edge engraved (Struck by Order of the Patrons of the Anniversary Meeting who assembled with 5000 Children on the Happy Event), 54mm (BHM 312; E 825). Pierced for suspension, nearly extremely fine and very rare; housed in contemporary case £250-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, British Medals from the Collection of James Spencer.

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In his footnote, Laurence Brown states “The Gentlemen’s Magazine for 1789, p. 369, records that the Patrons of the Charity Children attended the Thanksgiving wearing large gold and silver medals suspended from ribbons. In view of the resolution that only one gold medal was to be struck, the GM would seem to be in error in speaking of these in the plural”. They may, on the other hand, simply have mistaken silver-gilt for gold