History
The King George V Coronation Medal was issued in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, held on 22 June that year. As with the earlier Edwardian medal it was a personal gift of the sovereign, awarded to members of the royal family, officials, dignitaries and members of the armed forces present at or connected with the coronation, and allocated across the Empire for local authorities to bestow.
The medal bears the conjoined busts of the King and Queen in their coronation robes and the date 22 June 1911. It was worn among the coronation and jubilee medals, and Australian officials and servicemen were among its recipients. As an Imperial award it retains its place in the Australian Order of Wearing.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is circular silver, its obverse bearing the left-facing conjoined busts of King George V and Queen Mary in coronation robes within a floral wreath. The reverse carries the royal cypher and the date 22 June 1911. It was awarded unnamed.
The ribbon
Dark blue with red stripes.
The ribbon is dark blue with red and dark blue stripes, in the pattern used for the coronation medals of the reign.
Eligibility
The medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of the coronation of King George V.
- It went to members of the royal family, officials, dignitaries and members of the armed forces present at or connected with the coronation of 22 June 1911;
- It was awarded unnamed and carries no clasps; it is worn among the coronation and jubilee medals;
- Numbers were allocated across the Empire for local authorities to award; 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 George V Coronation Medal?
A commemorative medal issued in 1911 to mark the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, given to those present at or connected with the ceremony.
Who received it?
Members of the royal family, officials, dignitaries and members of the armed forces, with numbers allocated across the Empire for local authorities to bestow.
What does it show?
The conjoined busts of the King and Queen in coronation robes on the obverse, and the royal cypher with the date 22 June 1911 on the reverse.
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.