Edward VI coronation medal

England, AD 1547 (old style 1546)

The first English coronation medal

This spectacular gold medal was produced for the coronation of the English boy king Edward VI (reigned 1547-1553). It was the first coronation medal produced in England.

The Latin inscription around the king's image translates as 'Edward VI by the grace of god King of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and the supreme head on earth of the Church of England and Ireland, crowned 20 Fenruary 1546 at the age of ten years'. The same inscription appears in Greek and Hebrew on the back.

The medal was subsequently part of the collection of coins and medals owned by George III (reigned 1760-1820).

K. Sloan (ed.), Enlightenment. Discovering the (London, The British Museum Press, 2003)