1902 Stamford Medal

Key Details of the 1902 Stamford Medal

The displayed object is a bronze commemorative medal issued by the Borough of Stamford to mark the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on June 26, 1902, featuring the town's coat of arms and naming the mayor at the time, Chas Gray.

• Obverse: Bears the right-facing crowned profiles of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra with the text "KING EDWARD VII QUEEN ALEXANDRA".

• Reverse: Shows the Stamford town coat of arms flanked by supporters, inscribed with "BOROUGH OF STAMFORD," "CHAs GRAY J.P. MAYOR," and "CORONATION, JUNE 26th, 1902".

• Composition & Size: Struck in bronze with a diameter of approximately 32 mm, and often features a small hole at the top for suspension.

The history of Chas Gray as Mayor of Stamford

Charles Gray J.P. was an iron merchant who served as the Mayor of Stamford from 1900 to 1902, famously leading the town's civic celebrations during the historic Coronation of King Edward VII.

Historical & Civic Timeline

·         Early Life and Business: Born in nearby Peterborough in 1856, Gray relocated to Stamford in 1883. He established himself as a prominent local businessman, operating a successful trade as an iron merchant.

·         Rise in Public Office: He entered local governance later in life. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) in 1897 and won election to the Stamford Town Council in 1898.

The Mayoralty: He was chosen as Mayor in 1900. Due to his popularity and the impending coronation, the council re-elected him on 9 November 1901 to ensure he would lead the borough through the historic "Coronation Year" events of 1902.

·         The 1902 Coronation Milestone: As Mayor, Gray chaired the full council sessions and orchestrated Stamford’s public festivities. Because the Borough of Stamford is historically permitted to use the Royal Arms on its municipal surcoat, Gray commissioned the special bronze coronation medals to showcase the town's unique heritage and mark the coronation date of 26 June 1902.