Ancient, British & World Coins, Commemorative Medals and Books

Great Exhibition, Hyde Park, 1851, Prize Medal, a copper award by W. and L.C. Wyon, conjoined busts of Victoria and Prince Albert left, tridents and dolphins in field, rev. Britannia placing a wreath on kneeling figure of Industry, attended by supporters representing the continents, edge named (Presented to Richard Sainthill by Leonard C. Wyon), 77mm (Allen A25; BHM 2462; E 1456). Minor rim marks, otherwise virtually as struck and of particular Irish numismatic significance; in maroon case of issue by Wyon, 287 Regent street, W £400-500

Provenance: D. Young Collection.

Richard Sainthill (1787-1869), born at Topsham, Devon, became a wine-shipper in Cork and devoted much of his spare time to the dual pursuits of archaeology and numismatics. On the latter subject he published widely from 1835 and was a close collaborator of his contemporary, the Irish scholar John Lindsay (1789-1870). See also lot 536