Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

The Opening of the Birkenhead Commissioners Docks, a gold medal, 1847, unsigned, ship in full sail to the right, SHIPS, COLONIES, AND COMMERCE, further legend around, rev. legend above shield and oak wreath, FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY SIR PHILIP DE MALPAS GREY EGERTON BeRt. M.P. 23rd OCTOBER 1844 - WATER SPACE OF DOCKS 207 ACRES. J. M. RENDEL ESQ. F.R.S. ENGINEER, 54mm, 82.43g. (BHM 2286). Matt surface, almost extremely fine, believed the only known example in gold (£700-900)

Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton (1806-81), palaeontologist, MP for Chester, 1835-68. The medal is recorded in BHM in white metal only and with a slight variation of the reverse legend. As this example spells out Egerton’s name in greater detail, one can speculate that this gold medal was a personal presentation to him, or perhaps George William Frederick Howard (1802-1864), Viscount Morpeth and later 7th Earl of Carlisle, who opened the Docks on 5 April 1847. Illustration reduced