Museum Medal Gallery

The brief for the medal competition to mark the Platinum Jubilee is for a struck, round, bronze medal but we actively encourage students to think about the subject in an imaginative way. In order to inspire those taking part, some of the examples shown here help to illustrate the creative freedom and the sheer variety of medals.

Fragile Earth

This cast medal shows, not only that medals can vary in shape, but that an artist should consider how both sides of a medal interact with one another. An important principle on a medal of any size or shape.

Round Dance

This medal illustrates the different textures and finishes that can be applied to a piece in order to bring it to life. Both sides of the medal relate to each other, highlighting the importance of the bee to our world and the threat posed to the species by pesticides.

Coronation Medal Percy Metcalfe

There is a long history of producing a medal to mark the coronation of a new monarch. This beautifully executed struck medal depicts George VI on one side and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, on the other. Both portraits have a softness to them, partly as a result of the design, but also from the toning that has been used to give it a matte appearance.

Hughes Medal

Whilst casting a medal does offer more freedom to an artist, a great deal can be achieved by striking. In particular, it can be possible to generate very high relief, as can be seen by the portrait on this example. This does, however, necessitate that the relief on the other side be much lower to accommodate the portrait.

Homage to Collectors

Some of the most imaginative and creative work is produced by a more abstract approach, as in the case of this design. Showing a coin collector in the guise of a butterfly catcher perfectly captures the pursuit of new pieces to add to a collection.

70th Anniversary of the RMAC

A favourite amongst Royal Mint Museum staff, John Lobban uses the lion and unicorn from the Royal Arms to mark 70 years of the RMAC, the body which presides over all United Kingdom coin and medal designs.