Stock No. 2928	Victorian silver boxed presentation medal
	Charming, large silver Victorian presentation medal in fitted, wooden case. Not hallmarked but presented in July, 1857. Obverse: Beautifully engraved, mature oak tree in full leaf flanked by two geometrical instruments. Engraved near the edge: THE OAK, THE KING OF THE FOREST WHEN LIVING AND THE PRIDE OF THE OCEAN WHEN DEAD. Reverse: Engraved in varying styles of script: July 1857/ Presented to/ Mr William Washington,/ Timber Merchant/ NETHERTON, NEAR DUDLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE/ by the Members of the sick Club held at the House of/ MR. MARK FLETCHER, LOYAL WASHINGTON INN/ Primrose Hill, Netherton aforesaid/ as a token of respect for the patronage evinced by/ him to them at various times by his pecunary aid/ and kind exertions to promote their welfare and/ prosperity. It is therefore the sincere and heartfelt/ desire of each Member, that/ He may be bless'd with robust health/ To live through many years/ His pockets fill'd with honest wealth/ His eyes be free from tears:/ And when it pleases God to take/ Life's silver cord away/ May then his soul in glory wake/ To spend an endless day.

Condition :-Extremely Fine. Excellent condition throughout and very high standard of engraving
Circa :- 1857
Size :- 4.6 inches (11.7 cm)
Weight :- 7.64 ozt (237.8 g)
The very high quality of the engraving and the substantial weight in silver of this medal reflect the high esteem in which Mr. Washington was held by fellow members of the sick Club. This sick Club must have been a type of friendly society of which there were very many variations in Victorian times. However, these societies all worked on much the same principles that people paid a certain amount regularly and were then entitled to draw a certain amount of money when they were ill and could not work.

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