The David Young Collection of Medals of Devon

Plymouth, Freemen of Plymouth, the Lord Mayor's ‘Gold’ Medal (Est. 1803), a richly gilt medal, arms and motto of the city, rev. legend in 16 lines, edge engraved (To Digory Forrest Esq: Amicus Populi), 53mm. Small test mark on edge, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare; in a non-original red fitted case £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Young Collection of Medals of Devon.

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Provenance: DNW Auction 48, 30 November 2000, lot 555.

The medal that now hangs from the Lord Mayor's chain of office was 'Presented to William Lockyer in his Mayoralty 1st January 1816'. Digory Forrest (1760-1847), the Mayor in 1815, was also knighted in that year. His father was in charge of victualling at Plymouth. Digory Forrest was secretary to Admiral Macbride and three further commanders-in-chief and was in HMS Ardent at the battle of Copenhagen; he was also present at the battle of Trafalgar and the capture of Demerara, St. Lucia and Trinidad. He served as a magistrate in Plymouth. Sold with a letter from Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery, 10 February 1976, in which it is stated that only six such presentation medals for mayors of Plymouth were struck and inferring that this example may be the only one that is named