King Edward VII Coronation Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King Edward VII Coronation Medal |
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    Medal awarded to Mayors and Provosts
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| Presented by | United Kingdom |
The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was a special medal given out in 1902. It was created to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. A coronation is a ceremony where a king or queen is officially crowned. This medal was a way to remember this important event.
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Who Received This Special Medal?
This medal was given to many different people. It came in two types: silver and bronze.
Silver Medals
The silver medals were given to important people like:
- Members of the royal family
- High-ranking government officials
- Senior officers in the armed forces
These people received the medal if they were at the coronation ceremony. They also got one if they helped prepare for the event or took part in the coronation parade.
Bronze Medals
The bronze medals were given to other members of the armed forces. This included non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and other ranks who were part of the coronation parade.
A special bronze medal was also given to one sailor or marine from each ship. This happened at the Spithead Naval Review on August 16, 1902. This review was a big gathering of naval ships.
Even two nurses from the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service received bronze medals. They had cared for the King when he was sick before the coronation.
How the Medal Was Worn
People wore the medal on the left side of their chest. It hung from a colorful ribbon. Until November 1918, these special coronation medals were worn before medals given for military campaigns. After that, the order changed, and campaign medals were worn first. Ladies could wear their medal near their left shoulder, with the ribbon tied in a bow shape.
What Does the Medal Look Like?
The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was designed by an artist named Emil Fuchs.
Design Details
- The medal is shaped like an oval. It measures about 30 by 38 millimeters (about 1.2 by 1.5 inches).
- A crown sits on top of the medal.
- The front side, called the obverse, shows the faces of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. They are wearing crowns and looking to the left. A wreath, which is like a circle of leaves, goes around the edge of the medal.
- The back side, called the reverse, shows the King's special symbol, called a cypher. Below it is the date "26 June 1902". A wreath similar to the front also surrounds this side.
- These medals were given out unnamed. This means they did not have the recipient's name engraved on them.
A Change in Plans
The coronation was originally planned for June 26, 1902. However, the King became ill with appendicitis and needed surgery. The ceremony had to be postponed while he recovered. The coronation actually took place on August 9, 1902. But the medals had already been made with the earlier date, so they still show "26 June 1902".
Different Kinds of Coronation Medals
There were a few different versions of medals given out around the time of King Edward VII's coronation.
The Main Coronation Medal
The medal described above, given to royalty, officials, and the armed forces, has a ribbon that is dark blue. It has a single red stripe in the middle and white edges on both sides.
Mayors' and Provosts' Medal
A special silver medal was given only to mayors and provosts. A mayor is the head of a city or town government, and a provost is a similar type of official. This medal was round, not oval, but its design was quite similar to the main medal. Its ribbon was dark blue with red edges and a thin white stripe in the center.
Police Coronation Medal
The Police Coronation Medal was a different medal entirely. It was larger and round, with its own unique design. It was given to police officers in both silver and bronze. Its ribbon was red with a narrow blue stripe in the middle.
