It’s a very modest collection, which was, partly, my intention when I started it.
The idea was to buy a medallion relating to every year of the 20th Century, and to do so with discrimination and economy. (Before you ask, that’s 1900-2000 because I can’t be bothered to argue about when a century begins and ends).
I’ve collected a number of things in my life but I’ve never really made a sustained effort, or had sufficient cash. Not that I’m pleading poverty, just that my eyes are bigger than my wallet. Once I’ve bought a few things I start getting ambitious.
Look at this one – linking piers and medallions. What better for a man who likes piers and medallions? It’s nearly 200 years old and it isn’t expensive in collecting terms. However, I can’t see Julia being too happy to find we were on baked potatoes and beans until the end of the month because I’d blown the housekeeping. She’s very patient with me, but even she has her limits.
The first medal celebrates the life of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. I presume it was made in 1972 to commemorate his death. It doesn’t have a pier on it, but it does have a map of Africa and some interesting history behind it.
He was 63 when he died, just two years older than me. In that time he had achieved independence for Ghana and established a fame that still endures. That doesn’t leave me with much time for achieving something as I’ve loafed away my first 61 years and all I have to show for it is a small collection of medallions.
The second one marks the Cambridge University Press’s move away from hot metal to digital printing.
I like medals made from re-used metal. I have one made from the copper of the Foudroyant )one of Nelson’s old ships) and one made from the lead of Selby Abbey. The Selby Abbey one was sold to raise funds for rebuilding the fire-damaged abbey. I really must find them…
It’s interesting to hold something in your hand and think that it used to be something else, though I suppose all metal was once something else, even if it was just ore.
This isn’t an elegant medal but it marks the end of an era. It was £6, including a box and explanatory leaflet.
I aim to spend around £5 on a medallion, which allows me to complete the century for around £500 and lets me buy something regularly. A collection needs regular additions. Or an addict requires a regular fix, depending on how you view collectors.
Looks like I missed the midnight deadline. I remember thinking it was 11.40 and time was pressing. Then I woke up at 12.10 sitting in the computer chair. I left it another eight hours before posting, as my ability to edit improves greatly after sleep.
I have one of the Dr Kwame Nkrumah medal’s as well. Your one is the only other I’ve ever seen. Do you have any additional information on it? I’ve sent Thomas Fattorini a note to see if they can shed any light
To be honest, I’m very bad at following things up, and it’s been on my “to do” list for several years now. Sorry I can’t b e ant help, but if I find anything out I’ll get in touch.
All good, same here! Likewise if I find anything I’ll let you know
I just had a quick look in Google, but found myself!
Exactly lol! Not many around at all
Hey. So Thomas Fattorini was absolutely no help, they don’t hold records that long and don’t disclose information on people that commission medals 😩
At least you tried. We sometimes get collections or individual medals coming through the shop which have copies of the original adverts which were done for some of the medallion issues. If only I’d known, as a ten-year-old collector of Churchill crowns and foreign coins, I would have made many more notes!
I’m amazed Cambridge waited that long to convert. That’s amazing–not to digital, but linofilm at least. I was in a newspaper as a child with my father, who warned my brother and me not to touch anything. Hot lead is not a pretty thing. It did make great letterpress though.
Cambridge University is struggling gently into the 20th Century – the last all male college allowed women in to attend in 1988.
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I would have thought that Julia would have welcomed a little starvation to have a pier related medal in the house.
I agree, but women can be mysterious creatures.
LOL – The mystery is how she puts up with you at all. Can I just say that? xoxoxoxo
You know me, you can say anything. 🙂 I tend to agree with you…
A little sad to think about the medallion made from the final melt. The end of an era! But, yes, reusing the metal is a good thing.
Particularly if you make it into something to be collected and talked about in coin societies. 🙂
This is really fascinating. It’s a good thing that the George IV one is outside your target timescale
It is, or I would put in the position of choosing between eating or collecting…
🙂