1939 Royal Visit Medallion - Coin Community Forum

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1939 Medallion - Commemorating the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen

"It was the first time a reigning monarch had visited Canada. In
Europe, it was apparent that war was looming, and one of the main
reasons for the royal tour was to stimulate Canadian affection and
support for Britain in the coming conflict.

An enormous amount of work went into the preparation of the royal
tour. The King and Queen would arrive in Canada by ship and travel
across the country by train. Both the Canadian Pacific and the
Canadian National Railways offered their services, and a royal
train was assembled, using some of their best carriages."
- Coins and Canada.

Medal details
33 mm
925 Silver
.59 oz of Silver
183,000 mintage
Obverse design Percy Metcalfe
Reverse shows the path the tour across Canada took by train.

Bronze medal given to school children, smaller 26 mm
Bronze medal sold for 10 cents, 33 mm (two obverse dies used)
Sterling Silver version sold for 50 cents, 33 mm
Happy to pick this up at the RCNA in July.

If you have a bronze or silver medallion please post a picture.
Comments welcome.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Wow, that's a great find! It's beautiful! I think the map of Canada is so cool.

I have a copper one, but not sure if it's the smaller or larger size. I didn't even realize there were different varieties other than just copper or silver. I'll find it, measure it and post a pic tomorrow.

I really like nice examples of this medal, and that's a nice one.

Cool, I've never seen a bronze version of the medal

Here's my 1939 Royal Tour Medallion of King George VI and the royal family. It obviously must be bronze, not copper. It's the smaller size, the type given out to school children. Reading about the tour as described in detail on Wikipedia is very fascinating.times were different, it clearly was a highly significant event that outmatched anything remotely possible today.

Photo of front and back, and yes some green (wonder, can this be removed?) The third pic shows the thickness, that what stands out for me in comparison to slivers of coins/medallions made today.

Hello wildflowerAB, it appears that your
medal is the one with the obverse designed by Thomas Shingles.

Quote:
The first dies used were prepared by Thomas
Shingles while working at a private firm in Winnipeg
before he joined the Mint staff. The Shingles obverse has
the bust extend to the medal's edge, and is not as
artistically strong as the obverse prepared by Percy
Metcalfe of The Royal Mint in London.

The Metcalfe obverse -- with space between the medal's
edge and bust -- was put into production upon its arrival
at the Mint.

This information from Commems in this thread.
Information gleaned from Haxby's "Striking Impressions".

http://goccf.com/t/98659&whichpage=2

That is REALLY cool.....thanks for sharing that info SilverDon! Now I suppose I shall be compelled to seek out the other varieties, not to blame you, that's just how I am:-)

Edit to add: From your link "my primary reference was Haxby's "Striking Impressions", it's a history of the RCM and its coinage/medals -- an interesting read and solid reference. Recommended!"

What a great coincidence.... I just received this book in the mail a few days ago. I ordered a used copy at a good price through Amazon but it's as good as new. I'm really looking forward to reading it!

Edited by wildflowerAB
08/05/2015 7:18 pm

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Interesting to know there is two designers of this medal. I have about three, still need to find the silver one. anyone know the mintage on the silver version. I also have a copy of striking impressions, its full of history!! Has there been another book released that continues where this one left off, I want more history!!

Lots of silver ones on eBay... just do a search with the same keywords as this thread title.

The bronze ones are easy to find, but can be pricy in higher grades. I sold a CCCS MS-65 Red large bronze medal for almost $200 a couple years ago.

Resurrecting this old topic to update a new medal from
Birks made of Aluminum. Now I have three metal types,
Silver Percy Metcalfe Design, Bronze Thomas Shingles
Design, Aluminum - Birks Medal.

Wow, very nice!

Wish this be a coin, Dollar or half....

Never noticed this thread before.
Glad it was revived.

I have both sizes of the bronze medallion as well as the silver commemorative spoon
(stamped Wm. Rogers) that was issued the same year.
I bought all three for $10.00 off of Kijiji as a package.

Have added the large bronze medallion to my collection, now
have the three varieties, have to get both types where they
exist. The two larger are Percy Metcalfe, the smaller Thomas
Shingles. The Shingles portrait goes to the rim.

I put these pics in the toned coins thread.

Edited by SilverDon
10/03/2016 6:09 pm

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Great thread and wonderful additions to the 1939 Royal Visit collection. This makes for a fantastic mini set in my opinion.

While I have no spoons or aluminum and passed on accumulating some 1939 themed dishware, I've also completed the basic variations of tokens, earlier added to my want-list . When I purchased the silver token it came with its original but small cardboard box, I thought interesting, Just adding a reminder to myself to photograph it.

I also heard an amusing story about an uncle who caused a huge fright by almost choking on his 1939 coin given out at school, putting it in his mouth, flicking it around on his tongue then accidentally getting it stuck in his throat. I'd suppose coins are no longer given to school children because it would be necessary for parents and guardians to sign book size disclaimers.

Some people have to be told,
don't put that in your mouth.
Good story.

This would make a really good "Canadian Spice" article Don... not that many collectors know the difference between the Percy Metcalfe and the Thomas
Shingles portraits...

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