1972 Preston Guild Merchant Medallions

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Preston Guild Medallion 1902

Once Every Preston Guild!
"Once every Preston Guild" is a local expression meaning infrequently. In fact the ancient fair called Preston Guild or Preston Guild Merchant is held only once every twenty years. The medallion illustrated is one of a pair, struck in silver and bronze by Vaughtons of Birmingham, for the Preston & District Numismatic Society on the occasion of the 1972 Guild Merchant.

Preston
Preston was recognised as a Borough by Royal Charter of Henry II in 1179. This also gave it rights to a fair and market. The Borough was to be run by the freemen of the Guild Merchant. The fair was held at irregular intervals before 1542, and then every 20 years.
The last fair was in 1992, and so the next is due to be held in 2012.

Obverse
The obverse design consists of three circles arranged in a triangular pattern within a larger circle. The three circles contain portraits of Henry VII representing the past, Elizabeth II representing the present, and three stars with the word "Future", representing the unknown future.
PRESTON GUILD MERCHANT CHARTER
HENRICUS VII
ELIZABETH II
1179 - 1972

Reverse
The reverse shows the coat of arms of Preston, a lamb holding a cross, with the letters PP beneath for Proud Preston, in a circle within a triangle. Outside the triangle are the three more circles containing respectively a church, a shuttle as used in weaving cotton, and an aeroplane, signifying the importance locally of aerospace manufacturing.
PRESTON & DISTRICT NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

Other Specifications
Diameter 51 millimetres
Weight (Silver) 65.4 grams
Weight (Bronze) 54.6 grams
The medallion we describe as bronze may in fact be bronzed white metal.
Boxed.

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