“This medal, struck to honor military service in South Africa, features a youthful Queen Victoria on one side and a powerful lion with a protea flower on the other, symbolizing both imperial authority and the unique landscape it represents.”
This bronze medal, struck in 1853, commemorates military service in South Africa, a tangible recognition of valor. On one side, a youthful Queen Victoria, depicted in profile, gazes to the left. She wears a laurel wreath, a classical symbol of victory and honor, her hair elegantly pulled back. The inscription around her identifies her as "VICTORIA REGINA." The reverse side features a lion standing proudly, with a protea, South Africa's national flower, at its feet. This imagery connects the medal directly to the region it honors, symbolizing strength and the unique landscape of the Cape Colony. The medal was designed by William Wyon, who was known for his prolific output of coins and medals for the Royal Mint, including many effigies of Queen Victoria.
- Artist
- William Wyon
- Date
- 1853
- Medium
- Bronze
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 1 7/16 in. (37 mm)
- Collection
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Culture
- British
- Credit line
- Museum Accession
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
Observe the intricate details of Queen Victoria's laurel wreath.
Note the powerful stance of the lion on the reverse side.
Look for the protea flower at the lion's feet, a specific detail of the region.
Examine the delicate rendering of Victoria's hair and facial features.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through The Cape Medal — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
William Wyon
1795–1851 · British EmpireWilliam Wyon, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint, left an indelible mark on British coinage and even the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black.
Further Works by Wyon
George III "Incorrupta" crown
1817 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"Three Graces" crown
1817 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Study for "Flying Victory"
1825 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
George IV crown
1826 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Coronation of William IV
1831 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
William IV proof crown
1831 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Queen Victoria's Visit to the Corporation of London
1837 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Victoria proof sovereign
1837 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Wyon: works from the same years.
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Joséphine-Éléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn (1825–1860), Princesse de Broglie
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1853 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Wordsworth Manor
William Hart · 1852
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Mère Grégoire
Gustave Courbet · 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Woman Feeding Chickens
Jean-François Millet · 1850 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion
Eugène Delacroix · 1849 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Young Spartan Girls Challenging Boys
Edgar Degas · 1860 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
A Sketch
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1862 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Alfred Sisley
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1864 · Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Sea View, Calm Weather (Vue de mer, temps calme)
Édouard Manet · 1864 · Art Institute of Chicago