Coins and Historical Medals

Visit of the Shah of Persia to the City of London, 1873, a bronze medal by A.B. Wyon for the Corporation of the City of London, bust of Nasir al-din three-quarters left, rev. Londinia standing between shields of London and Persia, St Paul’s and Tower behind, 77mm (W & E 1202A.1; BHM 2951; E 1623). Extremely fine or better; in fitted case of issue by Wyon, 287 Regent Street, London [this a little faded] £1,200-£1,500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Complete Collection of City of London Medals.

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A magnificent entertainment was given for the Shah on Friday 20 June, 1873. While he was probably accustomed to the opulence and splendour of the occasion, the journey to the Guildhall obviously left an impression on him. His diary reveals “We are invited this evening to the house of the Lord Mayor... At night therefore we mounted our carriage and drove off. From our palace to the Lord Mayor’s house was quite a league... Every street is lighted with gas, and besides this, electric lights from the roofs and windows of the houses made the streets as clear as the day. ” There may be a little poetic licence in this description, as an evening reception held close to Midsummer’s day would not begin after dark. Likely the description is based on his return journey.