Item number: M163
Year: AD 1968
Material: Gold
Size: 38.3 x 38.3 x 2.1 mm
Weight: 43.35 g
Manufactured by: Spink, London
Provenance: Spink 2024
This is a coronation medal issued on August 1, AD 1968, to celebrate the accession of Hassanal Bolkiah as the 29th Sultan of Brunei, available in both gold and silver grades.
The obverse of the medal features the left profile of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who ascended to the throne at the age of 21. Surrounding his image are legends in Malay indicating the Sultan’s name, title, and coronation date, with the abbreviation “D.Y.K.K” signifying “His Royal Highness” in Malay. On the reverse inner circle, there are depictions of a lion and a tiger guarding the Sultan’s palace on either side. The outer circle of both sides of the medal consists of triangular geometric shapes representing rays of light.
The medal is suspended by a fixed ring suspension link to the ribbon, with the ribbon’s colour scheme prominently displaying its Southeast Asian influence. The ribbon features a wide yellow band at the centre symbolising royalty, flanked on either side by symmetrical arrangements of white, green, black, and red colours, progressing from the inside outwards. On the reverse side of the ribbon, there is an attached plaque with a fixed pin, bearing the hallmark and address of the manufacturer, Spink & Son Auctioneers. Spink & Son is headquartered in London and is a renowned auction house established in AD 1666. Besides their auction business, Spink & Son also engages in the manufacturing of medals.
The medal is housed in its original green leather presentation case, with the Sultan’s title, name, coronation date, and medal grade (gold) embossed in gold lettering on the top. The white lining inside the lid bears the Spink hallmark and the quality mark recognised by the British royal family. The medal itself is set on green velvet lining.
According to the auction house’s description, the recipient of the medal was A. F. Stubbs, who was serving in the British Commonwealth Army in Brunei at the time. After the end of World War II, Stubbs was stationed in various locations, including Malaya, Singapore, and Brunei. He was serving as the commanding officer at Bolkiah Camp (which later became the headquarter of the Brunei military), when the Sultan was crowned in AD 1968. As a result, he received this medal as a commemoration of his service during that period.