Victoria Queen, Silver Medal, 217.00gm, 5.6 mm thickness, 77.40mm, minttage 2289 only, (GB), (1887), Golden Jubilee: Official Issue from Royal Mint, by mint master L.C. Wyon after Sir J.E. Boehm (obv) and Sir Frederick Leighton (rev). Obv: Veiled bust of Queen Victoria wearing small crown, left: Signed: "J.E.B." on the truncation. Legend: ""VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX". Rev: Enthroned figure Empire attended by three female figures, representing science, arts and letters, standing on the left and two female figures, representing agriculture and industry, standing on the right. Reclining below, Mercury and Genius. Above two winged figures, representing 1837 and 1887, holding wreaths with the: "VRI" monogram inside the overlap. At the top in an arc: "IN.COMMEMORATION". Signed: "FL" at the left end of the bottom step. In the exergue, flanked by laurel, five interlocked shields: "ASIA", AMERICA", "EUROPE", "AUSTRAL / ASIA" and "AFRICA". BHM: 3219; Eimer: 1733; Fearon: 338.1; Laidlaw: 0392;
Extremely Fine, Rare.
In the centre a figure representing the British Empire sits enthroned, with the sea in the background, resting one hand on the sword of Justice, and holding in the other the symbol of victorious rule. A lion is seen on each side of the throne. At the feet of the seated figure lies Mercury, the God of Commerce, the mainstay of our imperial strength, holding up in one hand a cup heaped with gold. Opposite him sits the Genius of Electricity and Steam. Below, again, five shields banded together bear the names of the five parts of the globe, Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australasia, over which the Empire extends. On each side of the figure of Empire stand the personified elements of its greatness – on the right (of the spectator) Industry and Agriculture; on the left, Science, Letters and Arts. Above, the occasion of the celebration commemorated is expressed by two winged figures representing the year 1887 (the advancing figure), and the year 1837 (with averted head), holding each a wreath. Where these wreaths interlock the letters V.R.I. appear, and over all the words “In Commemoration.”
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