We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.

Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.

Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.

Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.

From the collection of 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room

1654 Items featured online

Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal

Historical information

The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of the Commonwealth countries and Crown dependencies and possessions. The award of the medals was then at the discretion of the local government authority, who were free to decide who got a medal and why.
A total of 90,279 medals were issued, including
6,887 to Australians
10,089 to Canadians

Physical description

Object is a miniature.
Description of full size medal:
A circular, silver medal, 1.25 inches in diameter. Featured on the obverse are the conjoined effigies of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, crowned and robed, facing left. The rim is not raised on this medal and there is no legend.
The Royal Cypher GRI appears on the reverse, surmounted by a large crown, with the inscription CROWNED / 12 May 1937 below the Royal Cypher in tow lines. Around the rim of the medal is the inscription: GEORGE VI QVEEN ELIZABETH (a V in Queen rather than a U).
The garter-blue ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide; with a narrow (0.25 inch) band consisting of three equal widths of white, red, and white, at each edge.