INFORMATION BRINGS TO LIFE.

I purchased a small commemorative medal, because it depicted a steam railwav engine, from Tony at the August meeting of Reading Coin Club. British Historical Medals 1837-1901 by Laurence Brown provided the information to bring the medal to life.

The Occasion: 1840. Marriage of Oueen Victoria.

White Metal. 27 mm. Diameter.

By Allen & Moore *

Obv. Bust of HRH Prince Albert Left.

Rev. Steam engine, shovel, artist's palette and other symbols of industry.

One of a set of five medals issued in a brass box c.1850. The lid of the box bears the inscription THE QUEEN PRINCE ALBERT AND BRITAIN'S HOPE within an open wreath. The bottom of the box bears the crowned royal arms within an open wreath.

Rarity. CC

Rev. As for BHM 1906

The marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819-61) took place at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, on 10 February 1840. Although the weather was unsettled, large crowds had gathered and cheered the Queen when she left Buckingham Palace, accompanied by the Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Sutherland. Prince Albert wore the uniform of a field-marshall in the British army, the rank that had been awarded him. The Queen wore a white satin gown and was given away by her uncle the Duke of Sussex. Following the wedding breakfast which was held at Buckingham Palace, the Queen and Prince Albert departed by coach for Windsor where the honeymoon was to be spent. Despite the fact that it was the custom at that time for newly married couples to spend some weeks away from society, the Queen decreed that affairs of state required her to return to Buckingham Palace after three days and they returned there, after a very brief honeymoon, on Friday 14th February.

Others in the set include:

Obv. Crowned bust of Queen Victoria left H.M.G.M. QUEEN VICTORIA

Rev. Britannia and the lion standing on rocks, ships at sea behind

Medallion 36 mm AR

Rev: AUGSBURGISCHE CONFESSION 1530-1930

Obv.Conjoined heads left. PHIL. MELANCHTHON * DR. MARTIN LUTHER.

The Teaching of Martin Luther found early systematic expression in several formularies of which the chief were his own Catechisrns (1529), the Augsburg Confession (1530) the Articles of Schinalkalden (1537) all of which were combined in the Book of Concord of 1580. The comparatively conciliatory Augsburg Confession was drawn up by P. Melanchthon.

(Dictionary of the Christian Church by Cross)

What is surprising is not the disagreement on one point of doctrine, but the fact of agreement on most points. Of the statement in fifteen articles drawn up by Luther at the end of the hot encounter (3 October), Zwingli and Oecolampadius, the Reformer of Basle (1482-1531), readily accepted fourteen and a part of the fifteenth. It was of course, on the remaining part of Article 15 that the whole argument had turned. Luther insisted on the corporeal presence, taking literally "This is my body". Zwingli held that these words can only mean, "This signifies my body". Oecolampadius held Luther's view to be "opinion, not faith".

At the Augsburg Diet he presented a confession, of which representatives of Strasburg, Constance, Mennningen, and Lindau were signatories. This "Tetrapolitan" Confession states that: "In the Sacrament his true Body and Blood are given to eat and to drink as the food and drink of souls, by which they are nourished unto eternal life."

But fails to indicate the manner of the presence. Fixes have always been with us!

NB Melanchthon was devoted to the Habsburg princes, Bucer was not. Melanchthon and Luther believed in an alliance of their party with the Reformed sections of Switzerland. They hoped for a settlement in which reform would be assured in the territories of the Empire, and were in no mood to defy the Emperor by an alliance with the Swiss. The cleavage in theology was thus accompanied by a basic difference in ecclesiastical strategy.

(A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1517-1948 Ed. Ruth Rouse & S.C. Neil)