1939 Royal Visit Medallion

Hey there Pennybox, nice collection. Can you show me a
closer pic of the Percy Metcalfe obverse small bronze
medal, it should have a PM by the King's shoulder. The
silver and large bronze likely do as well. It was my
understanding that the only Shingles medal was the small
one given to school kids all across Canada.

I believed all 25 mm medals were made with Thomas Shingles obverse.
(first picture of your last post) I haven't seen a PM on any of
those 25 mm bronze sized medals. Your medals show little wear
with some original luster. Nice.



BUT - my assumptions were wrong, I am looking at your
medal and it is a Metcalfe - the 25 mm one. The bust
portrait does not go all the way to the bottom rim of the medal
which is a big feature of the Shingles 1 inch or 25 mm medal. I
have looked at quite a few medals and none had the PM but all I
have seen up to this point were Thomas Shingles medals with
portraits touching the bottom rim. Obviously some were struck with
the obverse dies of Metcalfe when they arrived later, but
with no engravers initials, a key difference in the
larger sized medals designed by Metcalfe.

The Mint had to improvise a bit with a deadline looming to press
enough medals for Canadian school children, the obverse dies being engraved by
Metcalfe were delayed and the Mint employed Thomas Shingles to
engrave an alternate obverse so that medals could be distributed
on time for the arrival of the King and Queen in May of 1939.
2,533,943 - 1 inch medals were struck in bronze for all school children of Canada.
(This info from the Annual Report of the Mint Master 1939-1940.)

"Given the need for over 2.5 milion pieces, the school children's
medal had to enter production first. It did not have to meet the
rigid standards of the other medals so production of the dies was
contracted out to a Winnepeg firm. The task of engraving the
master tools was entrusted to the firms finest engraver, Thomas
Shingles... ... Production began with the dies engraved by
Shingles. When the Metcalfe obverse arrived from England,
however, it was employed for all subsequent strikings."

Dr. James A. Haxby - Striking Impressions - The Royal Canadian Mint and Canadian Coinage, page 162




Thanks PennyBox and welcome to the exciting world of medals and coins.

Agreed, can't find a photo of those large medals anywhere.
The box they were presented in was sterling silver on a
base of bird's-eye maple with silver beavers on the corners
with velvet interior. 2 Silver Dollars and the Gold Medals
were contained inside for the Royal Couple.




From the Mint Annual Report. 1939-40

Found and purchased the Small Bust 1939 PM
obverse for the 1 inch tombac medal.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/372176107506

Also happy to pick up a silver medal with original box like
Commems posted above.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/223166561906

Thanks for this PennyBox, I have a large file and a few books have been written
on the tour. These medals are really a neat thing and were available to all.
The activity at the Mint that year was ramped up. If you happen to see a picture
of the 77 mm of any metal, please post here.

Very nice!

Bronze medals 25mm

Nice adds Dorado!