- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 2 June 1953
- Country: United Kingdom & Commonwealth, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a commemorative medal established on 2 June 1953 and instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
This medal was given as a personal memento from the Queen to members of the Royal Family and selected officers of state, including members of the Royal Household, government officials, mayors, public servants, local government officials, and members of the navy, army, air force, and police in Britain, as well as her colonies and Dominions. It was also awarded to members of the Mount Everest expedition, two of whom reached the summit four days before the coronation. The medal was struck at the Royal Mint and distributed immediately after the coronation.
For Coronation and Jubilee medals, up until 1977, the practice was for the authorities in the United Kingdom to decide on the total number to be produced and then allocate a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries, Crown dependencies, and other possessions of the Crown. The government of each territory had the discretion to decide who would receive a medal and for what reasons.
In total, 129,051 medals were awarded, including:
- 11,561 to Australians.
- 12,500 to Canadians.
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Design
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal is a silver disk measuring 1.25 inches in diameter. The obverse features a crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right, adorned in a high-collared ermine cloak and wearing a Tudor Crown along with the Collar of the Garter and Badge of the Bath. It lacks a raised rim and any inscriptions.
The reverse displays the Royal Cypher “EiiR” topped by a large crown, with the inscription “QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2nd JUNE 1953” around the edge. The medal was designed by Cecil Thomas.
The dark red ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide, featuring 2 mm wide white edges and two narrow dark blue stripes in the center, each 2 mm wide and 1.6 mm apart.
