Great Britain: Empire Exhibition, King George V / Lion
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Form:
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Circular
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By:
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B. Mackennal (Obv), P. Metcalfe (Rev) / Royal Mint |
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Date:
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1924 |
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Ref:
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BHM: 4193; Eimer: 1987; Laidlaw: 0326;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 51 mm | Darkened bronze | 68 gm | $120 |
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Edge:
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Plain. Sometimes privately named.
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Obverse:
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Crowned and robed bust of King George V, left (as on colonial coinage). Signed: "B.M." on the truncation. Legend: "GEORGIVUS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:"
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Reverse:
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Roaring British lion, left, Wembley Stadium's twin towers behind, in Art Deco style. Signed: "PM" above exergue on left. In the exergue: "BRITISH EMPIRE / EXHIBITION / 1924".
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Notes:
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This was the official exhibition medal for the 1924 session and was awarded unnamed. A similar medal (Laidlaw 1255) was awarded for the 1925 session.
The Exhibition was a was a display case for the nations of the British Empire. It was opened by King George V on 23 April 1924 (Saint George's Day) and ran until 31 October 1925. There were two sessions, the 1924 session and the 1925 session, with a break over the winter months. Of the 58 territories which composed the Empire at the time, 56 participated with exhibits and pavilions. It was the largest exhibition ever staged in the world and attracted 27 million visitors.
South Africa had a pavilion exhibiting, agriculture, manufacturing and mining.
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