Medal - Edward Prince of Wales Honourable Company of Master Mariners

Eimer: Paget's seminal portrait of Edward, Prince of Wales was that to be used for the coinage and indeed appears on the pattern coins struck for each denomination, from crown to farthing, in readiness for the striking of the regular issue, that would naturally follow the crowning of the new king or queen.

In this extraordinary instance, the death of George V and natural accession of Edward VIII was closely followed by his Abdication, but not before Paget's portrait of Edward had been captured for the Master Mariner's medal and one that the king-to-be had shown a liking for. Indeed, tradition normally dictated that the direction of the coinage portrait would alternate from left to right with each new sovereign, but Edward had shown a distinct preferance for the left-facing Paget portrait.

The Master Mariner's medal, of which few were struck, all in matt silver. (sic) (Royal Mint Report 1935 & 1936, and both Whittlestone & Ewing and Giordano confirm it was also minted in bronze)

The medal is contained in its fitted gilt-tooled Royal Mint case of issue. 

Mintage must have been very small. Royal Mint Report for 1935 & 1936 does not give exact numbers, so it must have been covered by their “Various” category.