RARE PRE WW1 BRITISH METROPLOITAN POLICE 1887 JUBILEE MEDAL WITH 1897 CLASP

Offered is an original 1887 British Metropolital Police 1887 Jubilee Medal, with 1897 service clasp.

36 mm wide circular bronze medal with claw and ribbon bar suspension with original ‘1897’ clasp; the face with the veiled head of Queen Victoria facing left, circumscriber ‘VICTORIA REGINA’, signed ‘L. C. WYON’ (for the great medallist Leonard Charles Wyon, 1826-1891, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint); the reverse inscribed ‘JUBILEE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA’ within a wreath of oak, a royal crown above, circumscribed ‘METROPOLITAN POLICE’ and dated ‘1887’ below, English roses to either side, attributed on the edge to ‘PC J. McGREGOR Y. DIVN’; age-toned; on original ribbon.

The medal was instituted in 1887 and awarded to the Metropolitan and City of London Police to mark the 50th anniversary of the ascent to the throne of Queen Victoria on 20 June 1887. Recipients of the medal still serving in 1897 received a clasp for the medal. It is recorded that 8,708 such clasps were awarded to the Metropolitan Police.