King George V Coronation Medal

The King George V Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal instituted in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V, that took place on 22 June 1911.

King George V Coronation Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal
TypeCommemoration medal
Awarded forParticipation in coronation, or public service
DescriptionSilver
Presented byUnited Kingdom
and Commonwealth
EligibilityCommonwealth citizens
ClaspsNone
Established1911
Total15,901
Ribbon bar
RelatedGeorge V Police Coronation Medal
Delhi Durbar Medal, 1911
Visit to Ireland Medal 1911

Award

It was the first British Royal commemorative medal to be awarded to people who were not in attendance at the coronation[1] and, as well of those involved in the ceremony, it was given to selected dignitaries, officials and members of the armed forces, both in Britain and across the Empire.

On 30 June 1911 a special ceremony was held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace for King George V to present medals to all members of the Colonial and Indian contingents who had represented the overseas troops in the Coronation procession. The ceremony lasted two hours, medals being handed by the King to each of the 300 recipients present.[2]

For this and subsequent Coronation and Jubilee medals until 1977, the practice was that the United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries and Crown dependencies and possessions. The award of the medals was then at the discretion of the local government authority, who were free to decide who would be awarded a medal and why.

A total of 15,901 medals were awarded,[2] including 286 to Australians.

The medal was worn on the left breast with other coronation and jubilee medals. These were worn before campaign medals until November 1918,[3] after which the order of wear was changed, with such commemorative medals now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.[4] Ladies could wear the medal near their left shoulder with the ribbon tied in the form of a bow.[3]

Recipients who were also eligible for the 1911 Delhi Durbar Medal received the Coronation medal only, and wore a crowned clasp inscribed 'DELHI' on the ribbon.[1]

In addition, a Police Coronation Medal, of a different design and ribbon, was awarded to police officers on duty during the official Coronation celebrations.[2]

Description
  • The medal was designed by the Australian sculptor Bertram Mackennal.[2]
  • All awards were in silver, the medal being 32 millimetres (1.3 in) in diameter.
  • The obverse has a profile of King George V and his wife Queen Mary in coronation robes, facing left.
  • The reverse has the crowned Royal Cypher above the date of the coronation, 22 June 1911.
  • The 32 millimetres (1.3 in) wide ribbon is dark blue with two thin red stripes in its centre. Awards to ladies have the ribbon in the form of a bow.[5]
    • The ribbon for the police version of the medal is red with three narrow blue stripes.
  • The medal was awarded unnamed.[3]

References
  1. John W. Mussell, editor. Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 287 Published Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. 2015.
  2. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 29–30. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
  3. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 3-4. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
  4. "No. 32300". The London Gazette. 22 April 1921. p. 3184.
  5. Captain H. Taprell Dorling. Ribbons and Medals. p. 110. Published A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956.
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