A Collection of British Historical Medals, the Property of a Gentleman

Eglinton Tournament, 1839, a silver prize medal, unsigned (by W. Wyon), two knights on horseback jousting, in exergue, september 1839, rev. unnamed, 36mm, 23.88g (BHM 1891; CP p.174, pl. 36, fig. 1; cf. DNW 41/260). With loop and suspension bar, nearly extremely fine, extremely rare £100-£120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of British Historical Medals, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Baldwin Commemorative Medals FPL, 1999 (558)

The Eglinton Tournament was a lavish, if ill-fated, medieval-style tournament organised in 1839 by the 13th Earl of Eglinton. The expense and extent of the preparations became news across Scotland, and the railway line was even opened in advance of its official opening to ferry guests to Eglinton. Although high summer, in typical Scottish style torrential rain washed the proceedings out, despite the participants, in full period dress, gamely attempting to participate in events such as jousting. Amongst the participants was Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (the future Emperor Napoléon III of France).