PREVIEW: COINS AND HISTORICAL MEDALS: 9 & 10 JUNE

Awarded to the British or Commonwealth Officer Cadet who achieves the highest overall scores across military, academic, and practical studies at the Royal Military College, the Sandhurst King’s Medal is a singular mark of success.

This sale includes affine example from 1904. A gold award by G.W. De Saulles, it depicts the uniformed bust of Edward VII left, with the reverse carrying the legend His Majesty The King’s Medal above Royal Military College Sandhurst and a wreath below.

The edge is named for gentleman cadet john basil whitmore hay. Lt. John Basil Whitmore Hay (1887-1963) was a junior officer in the 36th Sikhs, Indian Army. As part of his service, he took part in the 1911 Delhi Durbar to celebrate the coronation of George V and Queen Mary. Earlier that year, Hay had also taken part in the Coronation in London, representing some 700 officers and soldiers from the Indian contingent. He was promoted Captain in 1913.

A post-service career in the Diplomatic Corps saw him spend the remainder of his working life in British East Africa, where he eventually retired with his family before succumbing to ill health on the 7 November 1963, aged 76.

This 45mm medal has some trifling hairlines but is otherwise in good extremely fine condition and extremely rare. The estimate is £6,000-8,000.

Attracting a great deal of interest well before the sale has been an Edward I (1272-1307) Penny. Minted in London, with annulets at the neck and on the breast, this full round coin, which is better than very fine, has a light hoard patina over excellent metal, and is extremely rare thus. Pitched at £400-600, a week before the auction it had already attracted a bid of £1,500.