Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

National Rifle Association, Prize Medal 1860, by G. G. Adams, obv. a four-line inscription within a laurel wreath, ‘The National Rifle Association 1860’; rev. an ancient archer and a rifle volunteer, side by side, dated in field ‘1300, 1500 & 1860’, in exergue, ‘Sit Perpetuum’ (Won by Robert G. Currie. December 30th 1863; seven shots at 800 yards, score 22), 48mm., silver, Ref. Eimer 1542, B.H.M. 2682, Payne p.187, nearly extremely fine £20-30

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Shooting medals from the James N. Spencer Collection.

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The National Rifle Association was founded in 1860 ‘to promote and encourage marksmenship throughout the Queen’s dominions in the interests of defence and the permanence of the Volunteer and Auxiliary Forces ...’ The first meeting of the Association was held at Wimbledon Common on 2-7 July 1860. In the ‘Volunteer’ category, the Queen’s Prize of a gold medal plus £250 was awarded to the overall winner; silver medals were also awarded. In the ‘all-comers’ category, the winner received the Prince Consort’s Prize of £100.The dates on the medal refer to the supposed dates in which the longbow flourished (1300-1500) and year the N.R.A. was established. In the years following, a number of N.R.A. prize medals were established, usually with the ‘ancient archer and volunteer rifleman’ reverse.