| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61366 | Auction date: 26 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 23217 Price realized: 525 USD (Approx. 484 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Japan Taisho gold "Kokugakuin University Alumni Association" Medal Year 9 (1920) VF (Chopmarked), 23mm. 10.0gm. With jewelry mount. Tested as 23 karat gold. Awarded to Toyoji Wada, director of Kokugakuin University who is remembered for sourcing funds to build the Shinto Shrine on the campus in 1930. https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-taisho-gold-kokugakuin-university-alumni-association-medal-year-9-1920-vf-chopmarked-/a/61366-23217.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61366-03262024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 1:
| Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd > Auction 134 | Auction date: 21 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 2687 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: R.M.S. "Carpathia"/S.S. "Titanic" Medal, In Recognition Of Gallant & Heroic Service, From The Survivors Of The S.S. "Titanic", 1912, in bronze, unnamed as issued; I.M.O (In Memory Of) Titanic souvenir medal in gold and enamel, reverse inscribed 'April 15th 1912'; also, The Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit in silver, reverse inscribed 'J. Watt. 1933'; B.A.A.A. (Barrow Amateur Athletic Association) prize medal in voided silver and gold, ring top with ornate pin-back suspender, obverse inscribed 'Swimming Race', reverse inscribed '1st Prize/B.A.A.A./Aquatic Sports/Aug.6th/1900'; also commemorative medal, Loss of the S.S.Titanic, April 15.1912, uniface, in bronze (51mm) (Eimer 1929; MH 1928, 716), by Spicer-Simpson. The last with digs on reverse, otherwise very fine, the rest extremely fine. (5) Loss of the S.S. Titanic medal was privately commissioned by survivors of the Titanic, Margaret Brown and Dennis Telluride. It features the right facing bust of Captain Rostron of R.M.S. Carpathia. Only 500 medals were struck in bronze and they are very scarce. Ex The D.Featherstone/L.McNaught Collection and Noble Numismatics Sale 124 (lot 3619). The British passenger ship, S.S. Titanic was the luxurious and supposedly publicised as practically unsinkable liner which sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City, USA. This disaster led to the deaths of over 1,500 passengers and crew. The event has been the subject of 18 movies and numerous television features between 1912 up to 2018 with perhaps the most exciting being that made in 1997 simply titled 'Titanic', made by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett. Arthur Henry Rostron (1869-1940) was captain of the Cunard Line's R.M.S. Carpathia when a distress signal was received from the White Star liner S.S. Titanic on 15 April 1912. The Titanic had struck an iceberg and was sinking rapidly. Immediately Captain Rostron ordered his ship to speed to aid the Titanic. This was a huge risk because his ship was racing through icy waters at night but he knew what was at stake with a large passenger liner sinking in freezing water in the middle of the Atlantic. It took 3 1/ 2 hours to reach the Titanic's radioed position and during that time his orders and preparation would later prove to have saved lives. His crew prepared blankets, food and drinks and subsequently rescued hundreds of survivors from the freezing waters. Captain Rostron was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Thanks of Congress, the American Cross of Honor, and medals by the Liverpool and New York Shipwreck Societies. He would eventually rise to the position of Commodore of the Cunard Line and also served as a British Naval Officer during WWI. J.Watt was born in Barrow on the west coast of Lancashire, England in 1889. At the age of 11 he proved himself to be a good swimmer when he gained first place in an event at the Aquatic Sports staged by the Barrow Amateur Athletic Association in August 1900. He joined the Merchant Navy, signing on with the Liverpool based Cunard Line where he served as a waiter. On 7 February 1912 he transferred from the S.S. Bohemian to the R.M.S. Carpathia. He was still with the Carpathia two months later when, on 12 April 1912, the S.S. Titanic sank and the captain, officers and crew of the Carpathia rescued 705 people from the Titanic's complement of 2,340. After landing the survivors at New York, USA on 18 April 1912 the Carpathia continued on its way. The next time the Carpathia stopped at New York was on 29 May 1912 at which time the Titanic Survivors' Committee presented medals to the captain, officers and crew who had been on the Carpathia at the time of Titanic's sinking and the subsequent rescue. J.Watt was one of those so honoured. The medals were struck in gold, silver and bronze and awarded according to rank, thus J.Watt was a recipient of a bronze medal. Watt discharged from service with the Carpathia on 1 January 1913 in Liverpool, England. In 1933 at the age of 44 he received the Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit Medal for aquatic life saving proficiency. With research including a video titled 'A Night to Remember', a 1958 movie staring Kenneth More; a book of the same title by Walter Lord; booklet titled 'Women and Children First, Wrecks, Rescues, Rewards and Recipients' by Jack Boddington; Titanic crew list; Carpathia crew list; various photos, postcards, and newspaper cuttings. Estimate: 10000 AUD |  |
Match 2:
| Spink > Auction 23005 | Auction date: 12 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 550 Price realized: 1,800 GBP (Approx. 2,261 USD / 2,097 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The 'Haddenham' Collection of English Coins | Charles I (1625-1649), Group II, Type 2b1, Welsh 'Plumes' Crown, 23 June 1630 - 30 June 1631, Tower (under King), (m.m.) • CAROLVS • D.' G.' MAG.' BRIT.' FRA.' ET • HIB.' REX ••:•• smaller second horseman King trotting left, plume on headdress, sword over right shoulder to right of A, cross on housing, no ground line, rev. •:• CHRISTO ••:•• AVSPICE ••:•• REGNO •:• (m.m.) •:• oval garnished shield, dividing C-R and smaller plume above, 30.84g [475.8grns], 6h, m.m. plume (Hawkins 2b2; Francis 2b [no. 15, and sale lot 106 this coin]; FRC X/XIII [sale lot 57]; Brooker 243 same dies; Barr 31; North 2192; Spink 2756), evenly circulated, otherwise richly cabinet toned with traces of red wax in recesses left from when Francis illustrated the coin for the BNJ in 1916, hints of underlying lustre in recesses, only fine / very fine with a great pedigree to Nottingham's real life 'Scarlet Pimpernel'. Provenance, T Mathews, by private treaty, 1985 - £685, , , John William Gaze [1868-1936], of Beeston (Notts), Glendining, 22-23 May 1935, lots 281-331, this coin not listed, however the re-appearance of further 'Gaze' Crowns in the Paget and Lingford collections outside of this listing suggests that the collection was cherry-picked and possibly bought en bloc prior to auction by Messrs. Baldwin with first refusal given to their clientele, Grant R. Francis, Glendining, 24 March 1920, lot 106 - fine, and a rare variety - £2.12.6 [Gaze] , , G R Francis, BNJ (1916), 'Silver Coins of the Tower Mint of Charles, Part One: The Crowns', pp. 181-194 and Pls. I-V, and Pl. II, Fig. 4 this coin , , John William Gaze is a name almost entirely erased from the consciousness of the numismatic collecting community thanks largely due to the obscurity of a plateless and provenanceless catalogue of his collection in an inter-war years sale held at Glendining. However his interest in Crowns and Jacobean gold is testified in the Spink library notations for the Grant R Francis and W B Thorpe sales at the same house in 1920/1921. Having sourced the majority of his collection from these two dispersals, and with no relevant association with the Royal or British Numismatic Societies, his greater distinctions would come in his working life. His surprisingly untold story is one of remarkable charity; and inspirational war effort through his pioneering fundraising and advocacy of 'National Flower Days' to raise comforts for the troops. Surprisingly his flower was not the Poppy as popularised from 1921 by Earl Haig, but 'anagallis arvensis' - the scarlet pimpernel - artificially mass produced by disabled Nottinghamshire children for distribution nationally. He would also successfully petition the Admiralty to introduce a 'War Service Badge' for essential workers - a policy that was adopted in December 1914. No wonder this glowing festschrift of his life was penned in the Beeston Gazette and Echo (Saturday, 14 March 1931) :-, , "In the days of your youth, however, you had other interests besides the development of an ingenious invention. You displayed considerable skill as a tennis player, and the records of your club games while you were in Essex show that you played with a consistent success, and attained the distinction of being elected captain of the North End Tennis Club. Cricket also claimed your allegiance, and you were for several years a playing member of the Notts Unity Cricket Club. , , You must however, recall with especial pleasure your early experiences as an amateur actor, when you were a member of the Athenian Dramatic Company, whose activities centred in Upton Park. Many plays of that type would now be called old-fashioned were presented by the Athenians, including 'Called Back' and 'Mr. Barnes of New York'. In these plays you generally had an important part, and sometimes acted as producer and stage manager as well. , , You have been for many years an ardent member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, having joined the Hutchinson Lodge (no. 1250) at Beeston. Your advancement in that order has been noteworthy. In 1919, you were Supreme Grand Master of Buffaloes (AKA 'The Buffs') throughout the world, and since then you have been elected year by year for ten years as Grand Treasurer of the Order, a position of no little responsibility. , , During the war you took a leading part in organising the 'scarlet pimpernel' collections by means of which £10,600 was raised for the provision of 18 ambulances that were sent to the front. For your part in that highly creditable achievement you were presented with a gold jewel by the Mayor of Nottingham." , , This last act is confirmed in the Nottingham Evening Post (Saturday 19 April 1916) :-, , "Amongst the many efforts made to ameliorate the horrors of war must be ranked the scheme by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, who by means of street collections, are providing motor ambulances for service at the front. The variety of badge adopted for sale is the scarlet pimpernel, many thousands of which were being worn in Nottingham and the district to-day. These were the product of the local artificial flower industry, and displayed a very pretty taste in design and execution., , and again in the Beeston Gazette and Echo (Saturday, 1 February 1919) :- , , "At a Grand Lodge Meeting, of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes held at Worcester, last Saturday, Mr. J. W. Gaze of Beeston, was installed as Grand Prime for all England., , Mr Gaze is well known in Beeston and district being the Managing Director of the Angular Works, where he originated the ring plug for shells, which saved the country a big sum for transport expenses, and also considerable time in handling them. , , At the outset of the war he designed the 'Scarlet Pimpernel' Red Cross flower, which resulted in nearly £9,000 being raised for the purpose of purchasing motor ambulances for the Army. They have proved of great service in removing the wounded, and as a slight acknowledgement of his services in this direction, the Mayor of Nottingham, on behalf of the Buffaloes, presented Mr. Gaze with a gold jewel on 15 November 1917. , , It might be mentioned that it was Mr. Gaze who originated the idea of the badge scheme, which was submitted to Mr. Winston Churchill, and later adopted for all war workers." , , Having been so involved in the war effort, it is perhaps no surprise that the return to peace saw Gaze's interest in the English Civil War develop. There is a distinct poignancy to his collecting specie of Charles I. As a veteran of the horrors of conflict, Gaze evidently saw comfort in the study and understanding of a similar event in the annals of British history. The traditions of 'Scarlet Pimpernel Day' continued in Nottingham long after the national adoption of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, with the later fundraising efforts channelled towards giving deprived local children short holiday breaks to neighbouring Skegness. As a man of little renown today, and thanks only to Francis' foresight in 1916, the possibility of tracing any other coin to his collection is exceedingly remote - as such this coin is likely to remain one of the few certifiable legacies of a remarkable individual turned coin collector, and Nottingham's real life 'Scarlet Pimpernel'. Estimate: £700 - £1000 |  |
Match 3:
| Spink > Auction 392 | Auction date: 14 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 198 Price realized: 10,000 USD (Approx. 9,136 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: \She was rather one of the quiet inspirers, not linked with any great feats, but confident in her own abilities, fascinated by the natural world, and passionate about kindling the fire of fascination in others. It is impossible to tell how many young explorers gained their first taste of geography from her words" | Royal Scottish Geographical Society, David Livingston Gold Prize Medal, awarded to Marion I. Newbigin, 1923, by P. MacGillivray, for Kirkwood and Sons, Edinburgh, DAVID LIVINGSTONE, capped bust of Livingstone right, signed macgillivray by right shoulder, rev. FIAT LUX on banner, angel flying right, holding torch and olive branch, vessel moored against an African shore below, signed macgillivray below palms, MARION I. NEWBIGIN. D. SC. FOR HER NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCE . 1923, downwards and incuse on edge, 63.5mm., 190.355g (BHM 3387; Eimer 1627), a small test scratch on edge and hairline to the right periphery of the reverse, otherwise as struck, very rare and of historical interest to the British Woman's Suffrage movement, in fitted case of issue with embossed gold lettering pertaining to the Society and recipient Provenance ~ Thence by descent to the present owners who have ordered its sale once more for the benefit of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society ~, Spink London), 10 December 2019, lot 12 "This Livingstone Medal presented to the late Dr Marion Newbigin was left by her to the R.S.G.S and ordered to be sold by the Society in aid of the Newbigin Fund. It was purchased by me from the Society for £60.0.0, which was the highest offer obtained from any dealer, the lowest being for £45.0.0 from the medallists Messrs. Kirkwood and Sons. It is held mean time by me in memory of its late owner and editor of the [Scottish Geographical] Magazine. John Bartholomew, December 1947". Marion Isabel Newbigin was born at Alnwick, Northumberland in 1869, one of five daughters of a local pharmacist. As a biographer latterly put it, soon after began her contribution to 'a sphere largely populated by men, and a lifetime of work that helped to define the study of geography'. Marion would benefit from her father's unusually progressive stance on education, encouraging her three brothers to pursue careers and independence during their formative years, whilst being equally supportive of her and her sisters in pursuing all possible avenues of education, however limited they were for girls in the latter quarter of the 19th Century. Engaging with the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women, Marion passed her matriculation exams in 1890 and was accepted to study at the University of London, one of the few schemes to allow female students at the time. The following year, aged 22, Marion enrolled at the University of Aberystwyth. engaging in all theatres of science, from mathematics to chemistry, biology to physics. In 1893, she was awarded her BSc in Zoology, and five years later obtained her DSc from the same institution, becoming only its second ever female student to achieve the feat. Following graduation, Marion found a position amongst scientists at Millport Marine Biological Station analysing and recording data obtained from the groundbreaking Challenger Expedition around the world between 1872 and 1876. She would undertake new research into the natural pigments of plants and animals and eventually publish a book on the subject, entitled: 'Colour in Nature: A Study in Biology'. Upon the encouragement of James Geikie, Professor of Geology at the University of Edinburgh, Newbigin took up post as editor of the Scottish Geographical Magazine, the publication arm of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Her 'bercovian' approach to submissions ensured that the developing field of scientific newcomers would provide regular content to the magazine. Marion also contributed, penning such forward-thinking articles as 'Ice Ages and the Geographical History of Climate'. The evolution of women's suffrage in the early 20th Century did not pass many, and especially not Newbigin, by unnoticed. In 1916, she was part of the successful movement pressuring the University of Edinburgh to allow female students into all aspects of medical studies. Similarly, Marion aimed to challenge matters of Empire and the emerging politicisation of race, by delineating her writings with a focus on the anthropological aspects of geography and human habitation. Never marrying and having no children allowed Marion to live and teach by her mantra of learning, and to seek out education wherever it could be found. Consequently she argued for teachers to 'be content to open doors', and as aspiring travellers, try not to be bogged down in 'ceaseless journalistic chatter about colonies and dependencies'. In 1923, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society recognised her 'numerous contributions to geographical science' by presenting her this medal, the first female recipient of this prestigious award. Towards the end of her life, she shared her home with two of her sisters. It was here on the 20 July 1934, the date of the RSGS's 50th Anniversary celebration, that she was sadly found to have passed away. The Newbigin Prize for outstanding contributions to RSGS publications was subsequently set up in her memory. This medal was sold to Mr Bartholomew by the Society in order to help fund her legacy prize, and so it is quite apt that the medal reappears again today with the intention of being sold for the benefit of the same philanthropic pursuit and providing some much welcomed funding for the commissioning of future publications for the mass education of children about the subject of Geography. Estimate: 10000 - 15000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Spink > Auction 392 | Auction date: 14 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 204 Price realized: 35,000 USD (Approx. 31,976 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Edward VIII (1936), Winchester College, The King's Gold Prize Medal, 1936, awarded to Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC*, by Thomas Humphrey Paget and Bertram Wyon, EDWARDVS VIII REX ET IMPERATOR HONOREM PROPONIT, 'classical' bare head left, rev. the tomb of William of Wykeham, ETIAM SEPULTI VIVIT FAMA WYKEHAMI OB MCCCCIV in three lines in exergue [\Even buried the fame of Wykeham lives, died 1404"], 49mm., 86.35g., [Unhallmarked, Spink XRF: 18ct. Gold, London (Royal Mint)], struck retrospectively on 2 March 1937, edge largely plain but inscribed upwards C. I. W. SETON-WATSON. 1936. in New Roman capitalised script 9 and 4 o'clock (BHM - [cf. 4383/3720]; Eimer - [cf. 1240]; Jeremy Cheek, 'Royal Prize Medals', BNJ, 2018, pp. 175-188), faintly hairlined and lightly wiped in otherwise lustrous, original fields, an unfortunate but largely imperceptible scratch above Wykeham, otherwise extremely fine and much as issued, OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, as a 'one-year type' of which only two examples were struck off in gold for English and Latin Speech at Winchester College, the oldest continuously operating patron of an annual Royal Prize Medal, and whose unique obverse legend: 'Edward VIII, The King and Emperor Proposes this Honour' elevates this prestigious award to truly exalted numismatic heights especially when viewed alongside the approved 'Coin Portrait' in a format larger even than his legendary Pattern Five-Pounds, and critically struck in gold, by and housed in, the Royal Mint official case of issue with the stunning and seldom-encountered Edward VIII Cypher in gold-letter Provenance The Estate of Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC and Bar (1918-2007). Christopher was born 6 August 1918, the younger son of Robert William and Marion Esther Seton-Watson. He was baptised at St Margaret's (Westminster) on 7 October that same year. Prior to education, he resided at No. 1 Buckingham Street, Buckingham Gate, London. His father, often writing under the pseudonym 'Scotus Viator' from here, proved a troublesome thorn in the side of the British Government for his outspoken beliefs on a federal solution to Austro-Hungary. Conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917, his allies soon rescued him to the Intelligence Bureau of the War Cabinet and the Enemy Propaganda Department. It was during this posting that Marion would fall pregnant and Christopher would be born. Whilst his second son was still an infant, Robert journeyed to Paris on his own diplomatic mission for the Peace Conference of July 1919. He continued to rile European officials with his jibe about the 'pygmies of Paris', but equally sought the renewal of friendships with ministers of the new state of Czechoslovakia. His allies Tomáš Masaryk would become the first premier; and Edvard Beneš its Foreign Minister. Unsurprisingly Seton-Watson Senior would prove instrumental in the establishing the post-war frontiers of Yugoslavia and Italy. Robert separately established the School of Slavonic Studies and from 1922 held its post as the first Masaryk Chair of the Faculty. Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Robert devoted his time to academic teachings; although was reportedly unpunctual, untidy, and too preoccupied with other matters". Unsurprisingly, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's later policy of appeasement to Nazi Germany about the subject of Czechoslovakia, found in Seton-Watson one of his governments most pointed critics. This lead to his publication of "Britain in Europe: 1789-1914 - A Survey of Foreign Policy, 1937, in which he argued for the strengthening of the enforcement role of the League of Nations as a 'united European front against the disturbers of the peace'; in short to be an active deterrent against the 'inverted Bolshevism of Italy' and naked aggression of Germany. Following the Second World War, Seton-Watson lamented the loss of the former Easter blocs new-found democratic freedoms, retiring to the Isle of Skye where he died in 1951. With the pursuit of geo-political and military history firmly embedded within the traditions of this family, it is unsurprising to see first Hugh (born 1916), and then Christopher follow in their father's footsteps. Educated at Horris Hill, Christopher became a scholar of Winchester College in 1931. In the Summer of 1936, Christopher would receive this prestigous King's Gold Prize Medal for Latin Verse; and subsequently serve as Head Boy, or 'Aule Prae' until he left the school the following year. His academic record was excellent - having further distinguished himself in History and Latin Speech; a School Exhibition; and as the recipient of the main Classical Prize for an Old Wykehamist - the Goddard Scholarship. The following year, Christopher commenced his Bachelor degree at New College, Oxford with the study of Classics and PPE, and helpfully where his elder brother Hugh was already working as a lecturer. Also revealed on the 1939 Census is the fact Christopher had joined the Officer Training Corps as a Cadet. This would expedite his transition into the colours upon the outbreak of hostilies in September 1939. The history of the Winchester College Prize Medal dates to at least as early as the first decade of the reign of King George III in the 1760s. However, it was not until 1797, that the Prince of Wales (the then Prince Regent) took up the patronage of the award and the addition of HONOREM PROPONIT ("Proposes the Honour") was made to the design. This Royal Prize Medal is the oldest of the now 24 annual awards bestowed by the Sovereign across the Armed Forces, Education, Architecture, Science, Poetry and Geography. As noted by Christopher Eimer (Author, British Historical Medals): "the medal was established by the Prince of Wales... two each in gold and silver, to be awarded in gold for Latin speech and in silver for Latin prose; the other two medals to be awarded for English, gold for speech, silver for verse, these to be awarded in alternate years." Today, Winchester College preserves an early example of the award for 1801, stating the transitional legend 'HONOREM PRINCEPS PROPONIT' and the device of the Prince of Wales (the Ostrich Feathers). When the Prince Regent became King George IV in January 1820, the bestowal of the Prize Medal became the preserve of the Sovereign, a tradition that endures to the present day over two centuries later. The present design was updated by Bertram Wyon during the reign of Queen Victoria to depict the tomb of school founder William of Wykeham, who died in 1404. Winchester College also preserves a small collection of prize medals from the reign of King George V (1919); King George VI (1945) and the late Queen Elizabeth II (2008). As Cheek notes: "Laurence Brown went to great lengths to define which medals should or should not be included in his book. Generally prize medals were excluded, as he felt that if he did not do so the book would never be complete or be published. However his overriding consideration was that medals of national importance would be included. As Royal Prize Medals were thought to be of national importance they were there confusingly in both categories. The result was that Royal Prize Medals issued during the reigns of George IV (1820-30) to George VI (1936-52) were included in BHM.... He continues: "There are also other Royal Price Medals not listed in BHM and not present in the following set: those medals produced with the effigy of Edward VIII, of which twenty-six were produced late in 1937. Equivalent issues to nos. 1-7, 10-12, 14-16, 18 and 20-21 were produced bearing the effigy of Edward VIII; no Edward VIII medals were produced for the Royal Geographical Society (Founder's Medal); the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Police Essay Competition or the Poetry Medal. A Royal Household Long and Faithful Service medal of Edward VIII was produced but never awarded; there is an example in the Royal Mint Museum. The other medals listed in the set described below were only initiated after the abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936. Laurence Brown was an assiduous researcher and I am sure that the omission of these medals from BHM was deliberate, presumably because he believed that they should be considered as Patterns for medals that were not issued, and thus lay outside the scope of his book. However since the publication of BHM two examples of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII have appeared at auction inscribed with receipients' names, so it would appear that at least two were in fact awarded. There are no specimens of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII in the Royal Collection." Corpus: 1. Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst) 2. Britannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth); Awarded to Peter S Wilson; Morton & Eden, Auction 8, 25 May 2004, lot 133 (£6,200 HP); Joseph S Giordano Collection 3. Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) 4. King Edward VIII School (King's Lynn) The abdication of King Edward VIII on the 11 December 1936 brought to an end a tumultous 325-day reign. The termination of his reign brought with it the logistical headache of scrapping his approved effigy for a replacement in the likeness of King George VI. Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint (1922-1938), Sir Robert Arthur Johnson conceded: "The work of the two artists was all but completed when the events of last December rendered it nugatory. Over 200 dies of coins, medals and seals were thus rendered useless and the Mint was faced with the task of securing portraits of his present Majesty with but limited time available." He added in the same December 1937 interview shortly before his death: "I am betraying no profound secret in stating that the coinage effigy of the former King was, at his personal wish, prepared facing to the left. But as there has been no coinage bearing the bust of the former King, the old tradition has maintained by showing the effigy of the present monarch facing in the same direction as the last monarch but one. The new King's effigy faces left, as did those of King George V and Queen Victoria, a fact which is surely one of the most happy augury." He concluded: "During 1936, in the early stages when the coinage for King Edward was in question, I was made aware that some desire existed for a complete departure from the heraldic tradition which has been associated for several centuries with our principal coins." Based on surviving Royal Mint Archives, Official Gazette entries, contemporary newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts, the following timeline can be reconstructed for the numismatic and philatelic record of the short-lived King's reign. 20 January 1936 - At five minutes to midnight, King George V dies at Sandringham and his eldest son David, Prince of Wales becomes King Edward VIII. Thursday, 6 February 1936 - An official at the General Post Office informs the Daily Telegraph, that: "New postage stamps and postal orders bearing the portrait of King Edward VIII are not likely to be issued until the end of the year. It can also be authoritatively stated that no mourning stamps are to be printed. The annual sale of stamps in Britain totals 7,000,000,000. Postal orders number 225,000,000. Of the 70,000 letter boxes in the country, comparatively few will bear King Edward's initials for some time. New boxes will do so. Letter boxes bearing the inscription E.R. VII are still in existence, and there are still a few old ones marked V.R. On the 9,000 mail vans, the Royal initials will be altered as the vehicles are repainted." It is estimated that only 271 post-boxes bearing the cypher of Edward VIII were eventually produced. The same day, the 4th Winter Olympiad is opened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by Adolf Hitler. Friday, 21 February 1936 - "The King received Sir Robert Johnson, Deputy Master of the Royal Mint at Buckingham Palace, and inspected a plaster cast of his own head, which had been prepared at the Mint. The cast will, with Royal Approval, be used not only for the new coins, but also in the preparation of dies for medals and other purposes." Friday, 13 March 1936 - "The King has approved two designs for the new Royal cypher: "E.R. VIII.". The War Office will make known to the public next week the designs submitted by Garter King of Arms which have been approved by the King. One Cypher in plain modern block letters surmounted by the Imperial Crown, will be used by the postal authorities and Government offices, Embassies, Legations and Consulates abroad, and by Dominions, India and the Crown Colonies. The other cypher follows the traditional style of interlocked initials with oak-leaf fringes. This will be used by the armed forces and the constabulary of the Empire." Tuesday, 28 April 1936 - The King sat at Buckingham Palace for the two medallionists [Thomas Humphrey Paget and Percy Metcalfe] of the Royal Mint, for the head which will appear on the new coinage and the medals which will be granted by King Edward the Eighth. Friday, 1 May 1936 - In what is estimated to be a £1,000,000 stimulus to the manufacting and stationery industry of Britain, the first printed examples of the King's Cypher appear in circulation. Saturday, 30 May 1936 - Bradford Post Office becomes the first building in Britain to feature the King's new cypher. Monday, 20 July 1936 - The Annual Swan Voyage of His Swan Master's Skiff along the River Thames exhibits the new Royal Cypher 'in red surmounted by a gold crown'. Friday 31 July 1936 - Sir William Currie, Chairman of the Worcester Committee announced that the King had been graciously pleased to become the patron of [Thames Nautical College, H.M.S.] Worcester. The King's gold medal was won by Kenneth Hodson. "A letter from the Secretary of the King's Privy Purse was read explaining that the medal could not be presented yet as a new one had to be cast bearing King Edward's head." This same medal was later sold by Sotheby's at an auction of 5 July 1994 (lot 211) and is believed to remain in a Private British Collection. Friday, 7 August 1936 - The King approves the uncrowned effigy submitted by Mr Thomas Humphrey Paget for his coins and medals, and the designs for the reverse of the new silver coinage by Mr George Kruger Gray. Tuesday, 1 September 1936 - Edward VIII's uncrowned effigy is released on stamps at midnight, featuring the series of halfpenny, threehalfpenny and twopence-halfpenny. London's three 'all-night post offices' in Fleet Street were besieged by collectors with queues forming two hours beforehand. "The issue was regarded as the greatest success of any recorded by the Post Office as over 30,000,000 stamps were sold on the first day." The following day however, critics were quick to note: "The head of the King is far from being the best photograph that has ever been taken and makes him appear more youthful than he really is. People are asking why there could not have been a break from tradition. Why always a face in profile? Why not full face, with the King wearing that boyish smile which has endeared him to millions? The new Australian stamp shows the King full face, so why not the English?" The Belfast Newsletter notes: "People are expressing the hope that a little more imagination will be displayed in the preparation of the new King Edward coins than has been manifested in the printing of the new stamps." Monday, 14 September 1936 - The penny stamp of Edward VIII is released. Wednesday, 16 September 1936 - The Royal Mint submits proposals to the Treasury for a new larger Threepence coin. An official stated: "the size is midway between that of a sixpence and a shilling. Efforts are being made to find a distinctive edge for the coin. The metal to be used has not yet been decided upon. The new coin will not however be made of silver or nickel." As Prince of Wales, Edward had described the silver issue, colloquially dubbed a 'joey' as an 'annoying coin'. Monday, 8 December 1936 - The Official Gazette, Notice No. 769 states: His Majesty the King has approved the issue of the customary official medal to commemorate His Majesty's Coronation. The medal will show on the obverse the crowned effigy of His Majesty with legend, and on the reverse the gateway of St James's Palace. "The Royal Mint are prepared to accept orders for these medals in Gold, large size, diameter 2.5 inches, price 50 guineas; small size, diameter 1.25 inches, price 12 guineas." Notice No. 770, states: "It has been announced that His Majesty the King will broadcast a message to the Empire on the day of his Coronation, Wednesday 12 May 1937. This will be His Majesty's first act after the Coronation ceremony is over. It is understood that a message to the Empire will not be broadcast by His Majesty at Christmas." Wednesday, 10 December 1936 - King Edward VIII signs his 'Instrument of Abdication' Thursday, 11 December 1936 - King George VI acceeds to the throne Tuesday, 2 March 1937 - The Royal Mint produces the obverse die hub for the Winchester College, King's Prize Medal. As each Royal Award is the preserve of the incumbent Sovereign, it is elected to retrospectively strike the medals with the 'classical' uncrowned effigy of the former King Edward VIII for those awarded in 1936. These are distributed to recipients over the following month. i) The Royal Collection boasts the artist's approval in gilt metal of King George VI sent for the monarch's personal assent (RCIN 443736). No artistic trials of Edward VIII were produced for the same purpose as the medals were to be produced retrospectively. ii) Spink has offered Marcus William Dick's, 1938 award in 2014, lot 628 iii) Spink has offered John Christopher Dancy's, 1939 award in 2021, lot 8110 Estimate: 15000 - 20000 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd > Auction 134 | Auction date: 21 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 2779 Price realized: 8,000 AUD (Approx. 5,251 USD / 4,806 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: DSO, MID (3 times) and VD Group of Six to AAMC: Distinguished Service Service Order (GVR); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID; War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration (GRI) (with substitute top brooch bar missing pin). First medal unnamed, Captain H.V.P.Conrick. A.M.C. A.I.F. on second medal, Lieut-Col. H.V.P.Conrick. A.I.F. on third medal, Lt-Colonel H.V.P.Conrick. A.I.F. on fourth medal, H.V.P.Conrick. M.N. Surgeon on fifth medal, Lt.Col. H.V.P.Conrick. D.S.O., U.L. on last medal. Last medal engraved, all other named medals impressed. Display mounted, together with hat and collar badges of AAMC (KC), very fine. Ex Dix Noonan Webb Sale 5 November 1991 (lot 267). DSO: Supplement to LG 18/7/1917, p7214; CAG 8/11/1917, p2938, to Maj. Horatio Victor Patrick Conrick, A.A.M.C. Recommendation: Major H.V.P.Conrick 7th Australian Field Ambulance. On the evening of May 6th 1917 near Noreuil a wagon loaded with explosives was being taken forward. This wagon was hit and a huge explosion took place, drawing heavy enemy shell fire on to the spot. A man rushed to Major Conrick for assistance and reported that a hundred men had been killed or wounded by the explosion. Major Conrick immediately collected bearers and led them to the scene of the accident. He personally attended to the wounded and directed the bearers in the open under heavy shell fire until all the wounded had been safely removed. Another report of Major Conrick's service reads as follows, 'During the severe fighting near Bullecourt Major Conrick was in charge of the Advanced Collecting Post near Noreuil from the 4th to 9th of May 1917. He continually moved from Post to Post under intense fire encouraging the men and arranging the relief for the bearers when exhausted. It was due to his efforts that the evacuation of wounded was rapidly and successfully carried on during the above days. This officer was in the first Australian Expeditionary Force and has served with the A.I.F. throughout the Gallipoli and French campaigns. He has, at all times, been characterised by his good work under all circumstances.' MID: (1st) LG 28/1/1916, p1209; CAG 6/4/1916, p862 - I have the honour to submit herewith the name of Captain H.V.P.Conrick, 3rd Field Ambulance, whose services I wish to bring to your lordship's notice in connexion with the operations described in my despatch of 11th December, 1915. (2nd) LG 13/7/1916, p6955; CAG 30/11/1916, p3234 - With reference to the despatch published on the 10th April, the following are mentioned for distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of General Sir Charles Munro's Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force :- Major Horatio Victor Patrick Conrick. (3rd) LG 28/12/1917, p13568; CAG 18/4/1918, p845 - The following is a continuation of Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of the 7th November, submitting names deserving special mention, published in a supplement to the "London Gazette" of Friday, 28th December, 1917 :- Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) H.V.P.Conrick, D.S.O. CAFOD (VD): CAG No.58 16/7/1931 to Lt-Col H.V.P.Conrick DSO, Unattached List, 2nd MD. This decoration was presented to Lt-Colonel Conrick DSO, VD by His Excellency the Governor General at his office in the Commonwealth Bank Chambers, Martin Place, Sydney on Monday 14 March 1932. Horatio Victor Patrick Conrick (1882-1960), born 27May1882 at Fitzroy, Melbourne and educated at the Christian Brothers' School, St Kilda; started working as a bank clerk before studying medicine at the University of Melbourne (M.B., B.S., 1910); appointed Resident Medical Officer at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Brisbane; 02Feb1914 commissioned Captain in AAMC, Citizen Forces; 20Aug1914 appointed to A.I.F. and posted to the 3rd Field Ambulance, AAMC; Emb.25Sep1914; served throughout the Gallipoli Campaign and was awarded a mentioned in dispatch in 1916 for his services as detailed in a dispatch in December 1915; appointed to 2nd AGH in Egypt Jan1916; promoted to Major 06Feb1916; transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital and left for the Western Front in April; served as medical officer-in-charge, Anzac Base Details, and then attached to the Aust Vol Hosp in July; for the rest of 1916 held appointments with 2nd AGH and 5th and 7th Field Ambulances; serving with the latter unit when his award of the Distinguished Service Order was gazetted in July 1917; later that year he served with the 1st and 15th Field Ambulances, the 10th Casualty Clearing Station and the 24 Bn; appointed Temporary Lieut-Colonel and Senior Medical Officer at the 2nd Command Convalescent Depot in November and was again mentioned in dispatches; 03Apr to 24May1918 commanded 8th Field Ambulance; rank confirmed on 01May1918; RTA Jun1918 and appt terminated 14Aug1918; no record of WWII Merchant Navy service as surgeon found. On 12Sep1918, Conrick married Mary Frances Punch at St Mary's Catholic Church, North Sydney; they settled at North Sydney and he resumed medical practice concentrating on children's medicine; held appointments at Sydney's Renwick Hospital for Infants at Summer Hill from 1922 and was honorary consulting surgeon there from 1957 until his death; from the late 1940s he was Honorary Assistant Physician at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital for women and children at Crows Nest and for several years was New South Wales representative on the council of the British Medical Association; remained on reserves with AAMC until 1943 when he was placed on the retired list with the rank of Lt-Colonel; Horatio Conrick died on 18 July 1960 and was buried in the Catholic section of Gore Hill Cemetery; In the Gore Hill Cemetery Biographies Volume 1, p219 it states that Conrick was the officiating officer at the burial service of Simpson Kirkpatrick, who was immortalised as "the donkey man" and 'Simpson and his donkey". On April 28th, 1915, Capt. Conrick, AAMC, landed on Gallipoli with the 3rd Field Ambulance. The soldier to become known as 'Simpson, the Donkey Man' was one of his stretcher bearers. Shortly before his death in 1960, Conrick wrote with first hand knowledge of this brave and remarkable Australian soldier and his personal recollections were brought into the public domain by his daughter, Mrs Mary Rayward of Dee Why. In one part of these recollections Conrick wrote, 'Simpson was a very game man and in fact, he laughed at danger. At all times he was cheerful and a great favourite with his mates of the 3rd Field Ambulance. On one occasion I passed him in Monash Gully and called out to him, 'Look out for yourself Simmy.' His laughing reply came, 'That bullet hasn't been made for me yet, sir.' When our C.O., Colonel Alfred Sutton, a good soldier and sensible man, came ashore at Anzac about one week after the landing, we reported to him the type of work Simpson was doing, detached from the Ambulance. He replied he was quite agreeable he should continue, as his was an exceptional case, the only stipulation being that he should report at intervals to H.Q. Simpson came to us at times for rations, but more often he was fed by the Indian Mountain Battery and Jacobs Mule Train, who were camped near Monash Gully. They greatly admired him and would have given him anything. After his death, these Indians took charge of his donkey, fed it and looked after it. Their Medical Officer, Capt. Casey Evans (afterwards Sir Casey Evans) told me that he enquired of some of them if they would not lose caste by handling a donkey. They replied, 'What matter, sahib, it is the donkey of a Bahadur - a hero.' We buried Simpson in the cemetery on Brighton Beach, close to 'Hell-fire Corner,' a spot he had passed hundreds of times in his brave journeyings.' With a large file of research and photos. Estimate: 10000 AUD |  |
