This 1837 white metal medal marks the beginning of Princess Victoria’s reign with the title “The First Great Era”, celebrating the start of what would become one of the most important periods in British history. Struck in white metal and made in the year Victoria became queen, it is a clear and attractive commemorative piece that will appeal to collectors of early Victorian medals and royal portraiture.

The obverse carries a portrait of Princess Victoria, presented with a formal and dignified style that reflects the seriousness of the occasion. The reverse features a floral border surrounding a touching inscription that reads: “To commemorate the first great era in the life of a princess, whose endowment by divine providence, with wisdom firmness and piety, must ever be the prayer of a mighty empire”. A line separates this from the date below, 24 May 1837, marking Victoria’s birthday.

Struck in white metal, the medal has a bright, clean appearance and a solid feel. The detail is clear and well defined, and the overall design is simple but powerful. For collectors, its appeal lies not only in the portrait and the historic moment it marks, but also in its place at the very beginning of Victoria’s reign, before the crown had taken on the full weight of decades of change.

This is a rewarding piece for anyone interested in early Victorian history, royal medals or the start of a defining era in British life. It offers a direct and accessible way to connect with the moment when Princess Victoria became queen.