Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Encyclopedia
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
.
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 got a medal and why.
A total of 138,214 medals were issued, including:
cloak and wearing the collar of the Garter
and Badge of the Bath
, and facing right. There is no raised rim and no legend.
The reverse shows the Royal Cypher
EIIR surmounted by a large crown. The legend around the edge reads: QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2nd JUNE 1953.
The dark red ribbon is 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) wide, with two narrow dark blue stripes (0.09375 inches {3/32"} wide) in the centre (0.0625" apart) and narrow white stripes (0.0625") at each edge.
Ladies awarded the medal can wear it on their left shoulder with the ribbon tied in the form of a bow.
The medals were issued without inscription except for the 37 issued to the British Mount Everest Expedition. These were engraved "MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION" on the rim.
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth...
.
Issue
For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries and Crown dependencies
Crown dependency
The Crown Dependencies are British possessions of the Crown, as opposed to overseas territories of the United Kingdom. They comprise the Channel Island Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea....
and possessions. The award of the medals was then at the discretion of the local government authority, who were free to decide who got a medal and why.
A total of 138,214 medals were issued, including:
- 11,561 to Australians
- 12,500 to Canadians
Description
A circular, silver medal, 1.25 inches in diameter. The obverse features a crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, in a high-collared ermineErmine
Ermine has several uses:* A common name for the stoat * The white fur and black tail end of this animal, which is historically worn by and associated with royalty and high officials...
cloak and wearing the collar of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
and Badge of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, and facing right. There is no raised rim and no legend.
The reverse shows the Royal Cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
EIIR surmounted by a large crown. The legend around the edge reads: QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2nd JUNE 1953.
The dark red ribbon is 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) wide, with two narrow dark blue stripes (0.09375 inches {3/32"} wide) in the centre (0.0625" apart) and narrow white stripes (0.0625") at each edge.
Ladies awarded the medal can wear it on their left shoulder with the ribbon tied in the form of a bow.
The medals were issued without inscription except for the 37 issued to the British Mount Everest Expedition. These were engraved "MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION" on the rim.