Queen Victoria's Visit to the Corporation of London

This exquisite silver medal, commemorating Queen Victoria's visit to the Corporation of London in 1837, is a prime example of William Wyon's masterful neoclassical style. As the official chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death, Wyon was a prolific artist whose designs shaped British coinage and medallic art for decades. The portrait of the young Victoria seen here was modeled by Wyon in 1834 when she was just 15, and it became an iconic image, even influencing the design of the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp. Wyon's extensive body of work, including numerous medals for the Royal Academy of Arts and the Great Exhibition, consistently demonstrated his artistic skill and attention to detail. This particular medal, with its intricate details and historical significance, perfectly encapsulates the celebratory spirit of the early Victorian era and Wyon's enduring legacy as a proponent of Neoclassicism.