Description

Victoria, 1837-1901. Gold Medal 1845, 139.17 g. Prince Albert. By W. Wyon. Bust, bare ALBERTUS PRINCEPS VICTORIAE REGINAE CONJUX. 1845. Rv. St. George and the Dragon. TREU UND FEST. Edge engraving: CHARLES WENTWORTH DILKE ESQ. 1851. 56.1 mm. Eimer 1398. BHM 2204. Von grösster Seltenheit / Of the highest rarity. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Kratzer / Minor hairlines.

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (26 August 1819 - 14 December 1861) was the husband of Queen Victoria. As such, he was consort of the British monarch from their marriage on 10 February 1840 until his death in 1861. Victoria granted him the title Prince Consort in 1857.

This piece occurs on thick (5 mm) and thin (4 mm) flans and was commissioned by Prince Albert who sat for the modelling of the portrait. The drawing of the horse was taken from Prince Albert's favourite horse "Imann"'.

There exists an example of this medal struck in gold which bears the edge inscription in engraved capitals CHARLES WENT-WORTH DILKE ESQ. The inscription refers to Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 1st Baronet (18 February 1810 - 10 May 1869), who was an English art patron, horticulturalist and Whig politician.

This piece is one of eleven examples which were intended to be given by Prince Albert to those who had helped him in the organisation of the Great Exhibition.

The Royal Archives contain the file copy of Prince Albert's letter in his own hand to Dilke (RA F25/27) in which he writes 'My dear Sir, Now that the Exhibition has closed its happy career allow me to express to you, as one of those who stood by its cradle, helped in its education and served it truly and zealously after it had been brought to maturity my sense of the assiduity and ability with which you have discharged the various duties entrusted to you. It was my intention as a remembrance of our personal connexion in this work to have presented you this day with a medal, I hope still to do so, though disappointed for the moment by the illness of Mr. Wyon which has prevented its being completed. I could not however delay my acknowledgements beyond today. Believe me always, yours truly, A.W.C.15/10/51".