British and World Coins, Commemorative Medals, Numismatic Books

Geological Society of London, Bigsby Medal, 1876, a gold award by J.S. & A.B. Wyon, bust of John Bigsby left, rev. starfish superimposed on rocks, edge named (John Walter Gregory, FRS, 1905), 45mm, 65.79g (BHM 3033; E 1653). Minor surface marks, otherwise brilliant, very rare
£1,000-1,200

John Walter Gregory (1864-1932), from Bow, London, educated at Stepney; on the staff of the Natural History Museum, London, 1887-99; professor of geology and mineralogy at the University of Melbourne, 1900-4; chair of geology at Glasgow University, 1904-29; president of the Geological Society of London, 1928-30; drowned in a boating accident in Peru, 2 June 1932. Sold with further biographical detail, including a copy image of the recipient