my friend asked me to look up a coin he has found in riverline valley. it is a queen victoria 1897 commemoration coin with the queen herself on one side and on the other are the words

IN COMMEMORATION of the loving welcomegiven by the children of sheffield to QUEEN VICTORIA in Norfolk ParkSHEFFIELD MAY 1897 . 1837 DIAMOND JUBILEE 1897.

It is from i think victoria to thank the 50 000 children that sang to her in norfolk park during her visit to the city and the opening of the town hall. or may have even been made by and given by the duke of norfolk on the queens behalf.

does anyone know anymore about the coin or know of any others that are around.
i thought i saw one once in the townhall hall during a school visit years ago but i may be mistaken.

I should imagine Weston Park Museum would be very interested to see this, they will probably be able to give a lot of information on it and the event.

yes , I think I will
they may even own one of there own or know more about who they were given to. I should imagine somwhere in sheffield theres one in mint condition with it being such a grand occation, I think i'll go to the town hall too and see what they know


thanx

I to have one of these coins, and would be interested to know more about it.
I am in Queensland Australia si a bit far for me to go to the town hall etc.
Thanks

Queen Vic opened the town hall in 1897 and all the school kids were given the day off school to greet her. Those who were in Norfolk Park recived the medal as a keepsake. My late uncle Tom remembered the day - he was 5 at the time. I have one of these medals and can let you have a photo if you pm me.

I've got a one or two of these coins. My great great grandfather's joinery/carpentry business did a lot of structural work for the Town Hall and he received a personal invite to the opening ceremony, and to tea in the reception rooms (I still have the two invitations - one for him and one which doesn't have a name on it, which I can only presume was for his wife). Two of his children sang in Norfolk Park (their third, my great gran, would have been too young) and I have 5 copies of the sheet music they used - I might have a scan of it on my flickr account somewhere, so I'll give a link if I can find it.

I also have the official programme from the day (which basically shows the itinerary for the day and the sepcifications of the Town Hall, such as materials used and dimensions of every room, it seems) and a special newspaper supplement from the day too (which unfortunately is falling to pieces).