Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Medal from Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, 1887

Medal
Silver, 1887
Originally Presented for Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee, a bar with the date of the
Diamond Jubilee was added ten years later.
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A few weeks ago, I shared with you a medal from my own collection. That medal was made for the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.

Today, I’d like to show you a similar medal from the V&A—this one was made for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. This medal was cast in silver, and was presented to Ministers of State and other dignitaries who attended Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Celebration. Since Victoria’s reign lasted a good while longer, in 1897, for the Diamond Jubilee, a silver bar bearing the date was given to those who had received the 1887 decoration. The bar was meant to be added to the medal’s ribbon. This particular medal was awarded to John Charles Robinson (1824-1913), a curator, scholar and collector, whose work at the V&A in its earliest stages contributed greatly to the enduring success of the institution. Robinson was integral in the formation of the collections. In addition to his work at the V&A, Mr. Robinson was the Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures from 1882 to 1901.