OFFICIAL CORONATION MEDALS OF GREAT BRITAIN The tradition of issuing official medals for the coronations of British kings and queens began in 1603 with the coronation of James I. The earliest medals were intended to be thrown among a crowd (a practice later abandoned due to unseemly scrambles to grab a medal). The practice of throwing medals into a crowd necessitated keeping medals relatively small in size (unofficial medals were typically larger). Since dies tended to break with fair frequency, new dies varying in minor details were created. Several of the examples of the medals listed here represent some of the varieties. Medals were struck in silver and gold and small numbers were struck in base metal for some of the earliest coronations. Base metal imitations of the coronation medals of George I, George II and George III were made for sale to the public. Beginning with the coronation of George IV it became the practice to strike medals in bronze for sale to the public. Starting with the coronation of Edward VII medals were issued in two sizes. There were no official medals issued for the coronation of Elizabeth II. References cited: BHM: BROWN, L.E. British Historical Medals, 1760-1960. Volume 1. The Accession of George III to the Death of William IV. London, 1980 (Reprinted 2007). Volume 2. The Reign of Queen Victoria. London, 1987 (reprinted 2007). Volume 3. The Accession of Edward VII to 1960. London, 1995. Eimer: EIMER, Christopher. British Commemorative Medals and Their Values. London, 2010. MI: HAWKINS, Edward. (Edited by H.A. Grueber & A.W. Franks. Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the Death of George II. London, 1885. Reprinted 1970 ? and 1979, London. 2 volumes. xxxiii, 724 pages, 866 pages, a few line drawings in the text. Plates for Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain. London 1904-1911 in 19 loose folios. Reprinted in a single volume with some explanatory text. Lawrence, Massachsetts, 1980. Wollaston: WOLLASTON, Henry. British Official Medals for Coronations and Jubilees. Nottingham, 1978. UNOFFICIAL CORONATION MEDALS CAN BE FOUND UNDER 'ROYALTY"