Commemorative & Historical Medals 1865-1905

Lot 118    SESSION 1 (9.30AM MONDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER)    Commemorative & Historical Medals 1865-1905

Estimate $1,250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

NELSON, handcrafted in silver with an 1887 gold sovereign inset (38mm, tot wt 30.4g), by B&K (Brown & Kerr, Nelson), ring top suspension, obverse inscribed 'Prize Medal/Jubilee of Queen Victoria/1837.1887/Nelson N.Z.'. Extremely fine.

Although it is unclear what the medal was presented for, the following note on the manufacture and presentation of similar medals has been found courtesy of National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past - from the 'Nelson Evening Mail' Thursday, 23rd June 1887:

"......The gold medal and clasp presented to Mr Crisp on Tuesday was the work of Messrs Brown and Kerr, on whom they reflect much credit. On one side of the medal, encircled by a floral border, are the letters B.C. in a monogram, and on the reverse: 'Jubilee medal, presented to B.Crisp by the people of Nelson, June 21, 1887.' The same firm turned out the second class competitive medals, which consist of a half sovereign set in a silver border on one side, while on the other are the words 'Jubilee of Victoria, 1887. Prize Medal, Nelson, N.Z.' ......"