Commemorative medal for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer
Michael Rizzello (1926-2004)
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1981
Materials
Sterling slver
Measurements
574 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773331
Summary
Sterling silver, commemorative medal for the wedding of Prince Charles (b. 1948) and Lady Diana Spencer (1961-1997), by Michael Rizzello (1926-2004), issued Spink and Son Ltd., London, United Kingdom, 1981. A silver medal designed by Michael Rizzello, to commemorate the wedding on 29 July 1981 of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The obverse has portraits of the royal couple with, at top, the Prince of Wales’s feathers and at bottom the inscription ‘THE ROYAL WEDDING’. The reverse has the royal coat-of-arms and a descriptive legend. The medal is in a blue leatherette case with Spink’s address on the inside cover, also containing the printed certificate of authenticity and another printed sheet on the care of medals. This example of the medal is a proof specimen.
Full description
The marriage on 29 July 1981 in Westminster Abbey, of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, caused huge public excitement in Britain, the Commonwealth and beyond, and led to the production of a vast number of souvenirs and commemorative items. The medal by Michael Rizzello was published by Spink Modern Collections Ltd. in two sizes, 57 mm. and 38 mm. diameter, and in gold, silver and bronze versions. The edition size of the large silver medal was 2,500. Jeremy Warren 2019
Provenance
Given to the National Trust in 1993 by George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (1910-1998).
Marks and inscriptions
Obverse, legend: THE ROYAL WEDDING Obverse, motto on Prince’s feathers: ICH DIEN Reverse, legend: . H.R.H. PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER .
Makers and roles
Michael Rizzello (1926-2004), medallist Spink and Sons Ltd, issuer