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 Replies: 24 / Views: 111 |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
One of my niche interests is collecting Shakespeare medals and tokens. These are the commemorative medals I've been able to track down. First off it was the Sept 6-9 1769 jubilee thrown by David Garrick, an actor/manager, that cemented Shakespeare's cultural popularity & fame. Without this celebration, one might argue the later medals wouldn't have been made.   |
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New Member
 United States
23 Posts |
The next medal I have was made in 1818.  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
And while some medals were commemorative for place/anniversary, others were put out by groups associated with Shakespeare, such as this 1824 Shakespearean Club medal.  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
189969 Posts |
Interesting examples!  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
1864 was a big year, the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
Hard to design a medal with the nose being the highest profile item....   |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
In 1864, the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, South London, hosted several major cultural and charitable events. The most prominent was the Shakespeare Tercentenary Festival in April, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the playwright's birth. This massive festival featured a replica of Shakespeare's birthplace, daily concerts, dramatic readings, and tableaux vivants with over 2,000 performers.  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
Sometimes they didn't put dates on them, but judging from the character of the design, these probably also were from around the 1864 commemoration. (this first one might technically be a pendant, as I have found another example with a top loop)   |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
And of course, other organizations joined in on the commemorative medal bandwagon...  |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
The next big anniversary was in 1916, for the tercentenary of Shakespeare's death. This is from the American Newspaper Publishing Association. Again, this one might have been a pendant, as I've seen a version with a top loop.  |
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Moderator
United States
98310 Posts |
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New Member
United States
23 Posts |
And then 1964 brings us to the quatercentenary of Shakespeare's birth. Again, this medal used to have a top loop.  |
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Moderator
United States
189969 Posts |
Looking good! |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 111 |
Posted Today 5H 45M ago
