History
The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was issued in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. As a personal gift of the sovereign it went to members of the royal family, dignitaries, senior officials and officers of the armed services present at the ceremony or involved in its preparation and parade, with a bronze version for selected other ranks and for one seaman or marine of good character on each ship at the Spithead review.
The medal carries the date 26 June 1902, the day the coronation was to have taken place; when the King fell ill with appendicitis the ceremony was postponed to 9 August, too late for the medals to be altered. As a commemorative award it was worn among the coronation and jubilee medals, and it is a genuine Imperial award that could appear on Australian groups of the Edwardian era. As an Imperial award it retains its place in the Australian Order of Wearing.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is oval, 30 by 38 millimetres, surmounted by a crown. The obverse bears the crowned, left-facing conjoined busts of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra within a laurel wreath forming the rim. The reverse shows the King's cypher above the date 26 June 1902 within a matching wreath. It was awarded unnamed.
The ribbon
Dark blue with a central red stripe and white edges.
The ribbon for the version awarded to royalty, officials and the armed forces is dark blue with a central red stripe and white edges.
Eligibility
The medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of the coronation of King Edward VII.
- It went in silver to members of the royal family, dignitaries, senior officials and service officers present at or working on the coronation, and in bronze to selected other ranks and to one seaman or marine of good character on each ship at the Spithead review;
- It was awarded unnamed and carries no clasps; it is worn among the coronation and jubilee medals;
- As an Imperial award it retains its place in the Australian Order of Wearing.
Order of wear
Coronation and jubilee medals commemorate a royal occasion rather than service or gallantry. In the Australian Order of Wearing they are worn after campaign medals and before long service awards, and among themselves in the date order of the occasions they mark. Since 1918 they have been worn after campaign medals; before that date they were worn ahead of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the King Edward VII Coronation Medal?
A commemorative medal issued in 1902 to mark the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, given to those present at or serving the ceremony.
Why does it bear a date the coronation did not use?
It carries 26 June 1902, the originally planned date; the King's illness forced a postponement to 9 August, too late to change the struck medals.
Who received it?
Royalty, dignitaries, officials and service officers in silver, and selected other ranks and one good-character sailor per ship at the Spithead review in bronze.
Is it a service or gallantry award?
Neither; it is a commemorative medal marking a royal occasion, worn among the coronation and jubilee medals.
Is it named to the recipient?
No; it was awarded unnamed.
Does it carry a post-nominal?
No; commemorative medals carry no post-nominal.