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The Golden Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1887 by Royal Warrant as a British decoration to be awarded to participants of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee celebrations.
Issue
The medal was awarded to members of the Royal Family and the court, guests at the celebrations of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee and the soldiers and sailors that paraded that day in London.
Categories
The medals were made in two categories - (1) Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Medal (Gold, Silver and Copper) and (2) Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Police Medal (Copper).
The medal was made in gold and silver and copper with gold and silver medals going to individuals of higher rank.
Description
The Golden Jubilee Police Medal measures 36 millimetres. The obverse of the medal depicts the diademed effigy of Queen Victoria, wearing a veil which falls over the back of the head and neck while the reverse side has a wreath with the text 'Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria' and the force's name around the reverse's top. Around the beaded edge of the medal is inscribed Victoria. The ribbon colour was blue. Unlike the Jubilee Medal 1897, this medal was issued named to the policeman. Holders of the 1887 police medal were issued with the '1897' clasp to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
The Golden Jubilee Medal was struck to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. On the obverse Queen Victoria is depicted as a widow, the text is VICTORIA D.G. REGINA ET IMPERATRIX F.D. The reverse bears the words IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA · 21 JUNE 1887 within a garland of roses, shamrock and thistles. The bust of Queen Victoria on obverse side was designed by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm and the reverse wreath entwined with heraldic flowers designed by Clemens Emptmayer. The ribbon has a broad central blue band with wide white stripes at the edges.
When the Diamond Jubilee was celebrated 10 years later holders of the 1887 medal were given an additional bar.