Smithfield Club, a silver award medal after W. Wyon, named (Lord Hastings, Melton Constable, East Dereham, Norfolk, as breeder best beast in class XXII, 1885), 49mm (cf. DNW M8, 2081); Norfolk Agricultural Association, Breeders’ Medal, silver awards (2), unsigned [after J. Davis], un-named, both 48mm (D & W 169/525) [3]. First of bright appearance, extremely fine, others nearly so or better and toned, but one with minor rim bruise £90-120

Provenance: Last DNW Auction 38, 25 November 1998, lot 530; others Bonhams Auction, 9 December 1998, lot 212.

George Manners Astley, 20th Baron Hastings (1857-1904); b. Melton Constable; educ. Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge; breeder and livestock owner of Melton, winner of the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in 1885; his forefather, Jacob Astley, 16th Baron (1797-1859) was the owner of the important coin collection sold at Sotheby’s post-mortem, in November 1880