The Wenham Lake Ice Company

CNG 85, Lot: 1618. Estimate $200. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HANOVER. Victoria, with Albert. 1837-1901. Æ Medal (77mm, 247.53 g, 12h). Great Exhibition Prize Medal. By W. and L. C. Wyon. Dated 1851. VICTORIA D : G : BRIT : REG F : D : (rosette) ALBERTUS PRINCEPS CONJUX., jugate heads of Albert and Victoria, laureate and wearing earring and necklace, left; trident head to right, two dolphins below; in exergue, MDCCCLI. between W.WYON R.A. and ROYAL MINT. / DISSOCIATA LOCIS CONCORDI PACE LIGAVIT, Britannia seated right on trophy of arms, crowning Industry kneeling left; to right, Asia, Africa, America, and Europa standing left; LEONARD.C:WYON.DES:&SC: ROYAL MINT.LONDON. in exergue / Edge: PRIZE MEDAL OF THE EXHIBITION. WENHAM LAKE ICE CO. CLASS XXII.. BHM 2462; Eimer 1457. Near EF, red-brown surfaces.

From a California Collection of British Historical Medals.

Awarded to exhibitors for excellence of production during the Great Exhibition of 1851, this particular medal was engraved for and given to the Wenham Lake Ice Company in Wenham, Massachusetts. Prior to the advent of factory-made ice, the company, which harvested and exported ice around the world, was so highly prized by Queen Victoria that she awarded it a royal warrant.