Medal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell #2010-0272

A circular silver medal with an effigy of the Queen wearing the Collar of the Garter and the Badge of the Bath on the obverse and the royal cypher and the inscription ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2ND JUNE 1953’ on the reverse; the medal is attached to a red and blue striped ribbon with a pin and is housed in a small red hinged cardboard box.

History

This medal is part of a collection of objects that belonged to Arthur Calwell, Australia?s first Minister for Immigration (1945-49) that were donated to the museum by his daughter, Dr Mary Elizabeth Calwell.

This medal was released in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 138,214 medals were issued throughout the Commonwealth, and it is believed that 11,561 medals were issued in Australia.

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Statement of values

This medal is significant as part of the Arthur Calwell collection, which is comprised of a selection of objects that belonged to Australia’s first Minister for Immigration (1945-49), Arthur Calwell. The collection is significant as a whole because it tells a story about a leading Commonwealth parliamentarian of the middle decades of the twentieth century and includes highly personal material which tells of Calwell’s family life, his life-long involvement in Labor politics, and his personal religious convictions. The Arthur Calwell collection at the museum uniquely links the personal with the political, thus affording an opportunity to conduct research which tells a rounded story of this important parliamentarian.

This medal is significant as evidence of the deep attachment to the monarchy in Australia, especially following the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Although not rare it is this association with an important Labor leader which makes this medal significant.

Reference:

Calwell, Arthur, Be just and fear not, Victoria: Hawthorn, 1972.

Kiernan, Colm, Calwell: a personal and political biography, Melbourne: Thomas Nelson, 1978.

  • Medal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur CalwellMedal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell —
  • Medal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - boxMedal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - box —
  • Medal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - obverseMedal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - obverse —
  • Medal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - reverseMedal celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II that belonged to Arthur Calwell - reverse —
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Details

Width 90mm
Height 44mm
Depth 17mm
Medium Metal; ribbon; cardboard
Creator’s name Unknown
Date created Circa 1953

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