Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

Enniskillen, Portora Royal School, Steele Memorial Prize, a silver award medal by J. Woodhouse, bust of Frederick Steele right, rev. legend, named (J. Courtenay Clarke, 1897), 52mm (Frazer p.203). Rather scuffed, about very fine, rare; with clip and ring for suspension (£90-120)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Irish Medals in Gold and Silver from the Collection of James Spencer.

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The Portora Royal School, founded in 1618, provides for individual pupils with dyslexia or specific learning difficulties. Its most famous pupil in the mid-19th century was Oscar Wilde. This award, established during Wilde’s time there in 1868, was named after Frederick Steele, son of Portora’s headmaster Revd Dr William Steele, who died in a boating accident on 5 November 1866