Commemorative medal for the 800th Anniversary of the Mayoralty of the City of London
The Royal Mint
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1989
Materials
Sterling (0.925) silver
Measurements
632 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Llantrisant
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 773334
Summary
Sterling silver, commemorative medal for the 800th Anniversary of the Mayoralty of the City of London, Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom, 1989. A silver medal issued by the Royal Mint, commemorating the 800th anniversary in 1989 of the Mayoralty of the City London. On the obverse is the coat-of-arms of the Royal Mint. On the reverse is the coat-of-arms of the City of London and, below it, the Mayor’s chain of office. The medal is in a red percaline box, which also contains a printed card with the technical details of the issue, a description of the medal and the Royal Mint’s certificate of authenticity.
Full description
The medal celebrates the 800th anniversary of the establishment in 1189 of the position of Mayor of the City of London, with the appointment of Henry Fitz-Ailwyn, who held the post for 22 years until 1212. The post of Mayor was held by the leader of the citizens’ association of London, as formally recognised by King John in 1191. The king further agreed in 1215 that the Mayor should be elected annually by the citizens and, on election, should formally parade through the streets. This was the origin of the Lord Mayor’s Show which was first held in that year, and the 800th anniversary of which was celebrated in 2015. The new Lord Mayor is elected on 29th September (Michaelmas Day) each year in the Guildhall of the City of London. The obverse is a standard design used by the Royal Mint for commemorative medal issues during this period. It features the Armorial Bearings of the Royal Mint, as confirmed on 23 April 1982 by the College of Arms. The Arms incorporate devices from the personal arms of the five principal Officers of the Mint in 1561-62: Sir Edmund Peckham, High Treasurer, cross crosslets fitchée; Thomas Stanley, Under Treasurer, stags’ heads; John Bull, Comptroller, bulls’ heads; William Humfrey, Assaymaster, fleurs de lys; John Monnes, Provost of the Moneyers, the castles. The medal was issued in silver and in bronze, in editions of 2,500 and 5,000 respectively. There is also a bronze version at Osterley (NT 773335). 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: ROYAL MINT. CENTENARY MEDAL. Reverse, legend: . CITY OF LONDON . 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAYORALTY/ 1189 1989 Reverse, on arms: DOMINE DIRIGE NOS Edge: Hallmark
Makers and roles
The Royal Mint, minter
References
Royal Mint Annual Report 1988-89, p. 9.