Historical and Commemorative
Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
OPENING OF LONDON BRIDGE
WYON, Benjamin: England, 1831, Bronze, 51 mm This medal is the first in the series of medals issued by
the Corporation of the City of London to commemorate important events. The
event in this case was the opening of a new bridge over the River Thames.
Two medals were issued to commemorate the opening of this new bridge, this
one and a smaller one, minted in silver, bronze and white metal (Welsh # 2). It is believed that 700 specimens
were struck of this and the following medal together. A specimen in gold was
presented to the King at the opening ceremony by the chairman of the
committee. The earliest bridge over the Thames at London was built
more than a thousand year ago, and since then the bridge has been destroyed
and rebuilt several times. A brief history of the bridge over the Thames can
be found in the description of the
following medal which, like this one, was
issued in 1831, the year the bridge was opened.
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