TOPIC:

TITLE: CITY OF BIRMINGHAM WELCOME HOME / TRIBUTE MEDAL

METAL: WHITE METAL GILT (Gilt comes off very easily if rubbed)

NAMED: UN-NAMED (This one came with a QSA to 7748 Pte. J. WITHERIDGE, R. Warwick. Regt.)

SIZE: 38.1mm

HERN'S CATALOGUE NUMBER: 758
HIBBARD'S CATALOGUE NUMBER: A-4, Rarity Rating: S
GEORGE A. BROWN PAGE: NOT APPLICABLE

CASED: NO (See Photos)

CLASSIFICATION: WELCOME HOME, TRIBUTE MEDAL

DESIGNER: H. B. SALE Ltd. MEDALLISTS, BIRMINGHAM

OBVERSE: BUSTS OF KING EDWARD VII AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA, FACING RIGHT, IN THE FIELD TO RIGHT JUNE 26TH, AND LEFT 1902.

REVERSE: CENTER - CITY OF BIRMINGHAM COAT OF ARMS, BIRMINGHAM OVER TOP AND SOUTH AFRICA ON BOTTOM, BORDERED BY " IN GRATEFUL REMEMBERANCE OF SERVICE NOBLY DONE

SUSPENSION: WHITE METAL GILT BAR WITH THE DATES 1899 - 1902 WITH A CROWN BETWEEN THEM, ON ORNATE RIBBON WITH EDWARD REX INITIALS

Evening all,
Would anybody have an idea of how many of the Birmingham Welcome Home Tribute Medal were issued?
Cheers Steve

Photo.....

I have searched and searched the newspaper archives but can find no mention of this medal.
Yet it is one of, if not the most common tribute medal encountered .....

If anyone knows anything about this presentation please let me know.
The fact that it is frequently seen with its cardboard box suggests that it was probably posted to recipients.

There also appear to be two types - one plain white metal and one gilt.

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I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF THESE AND ONE HAS BEEN POLISHED BUT THERE ARE STILL FAINT REMINANTS OF THE GILT ON THE MEDAL BUT IT MOSTLY SHOWS THE WHITE METAL..... I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED THE GILT WAS REMOVED THAT WAY..... WHY WOULD THE HAVE A GILT SUSPENDER AND A WHITE METAL MEDAL?????

Exactly what I thought Mike, until I put my example under a macro lens.

As you can see, this medal has silver frosting applied to the white metal (though it has worn away in many areas). There is no evidence anywhere of gilding, even in the deepest crevices. I haven't examined one of the gilt medals, but it would be interesting to know whether they too are frosted.

As far as the distribution is concerned, I fear the Coronation pushed any potential reports off the pages of the Birmingham press. There is a report regarding the production of Coronation medals by H.B. Sale and the need to take on temporary staff to complete orders. The obverse of the Birmingham tribute medal used the same dies as those utilised in the minting of the H.B. Sale Coronation medals. The dies were altered and the date erased when the Coronation was postponed. As the tribute medals retain the date of 26 Jun 1902, it is likely they were minted before the postponement.







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