The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (French: Médaille du jubilé d'argent de la reine Elizabeth II)[1] is a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. The medal is physically identical in all realms where it was awarded, save for Canada, where it contained unique elements. As an internationally distributed award, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal holds a different place in each country's order of precedence for honours.
Basis of award and numbers awarded
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was created by a Royal Warrant from the Queen.[2]
Until 1977, the practice for coronation and jubilee medals was for the United Kingdom authorities to decide on a total number of medals to be produced and allocate how many were to be distributed by each Dominion and possession across the British Empire, and later, to each Commonwealth country. From 1977, the award of the medals was at the discretion of each national government. Thus, 30,000 were distributed in Britain, 1,507 in New Zealand,[2] 6,870 in Australia,[3] and 30,000 in Canada.[4]
Design
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in the UK was designed by David Wynne.[5] It is in the form of a 32 millimetres (1.3 in) diameter silver disc with, on the obverse, the words ELIZABETH II DEI GRA. REGINA FID. DEF. (Latin abbreviation for "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith") surrounding an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, symbolising her role as fount of honour.[6] On the reverse is a crown atop a wreath that contains the words THE 25th YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II 6 February 1977 in six lines.
British version
Canadian version
The Canadian version has a number of differences, with the medal slightly thicker and the crown on the Queen's effigy more upright. The reverse has a distinct design, and bears a stylised maple leaf with CANADA above and the Royal Cypher below, flanked with the dates 1952 and 1977.[7]
Both versions of the medal are worn on the left chest, suspended from a brooch bar on a 31.8 millimetres (1.25 in) wide white ribbon with cardinal red bands along the edges, each 1mm wide, and a 7mm wide garter blue stripe down the centre, bisected by another 1mm wide line of cardinal red; the colours carried on the tradition for jubilee medals.[2] Women may wear the medal near the left shoulder with the ribbon tied in a bow.[8] Like the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and Queen's Police Medal, ribbon bars are also available.[7] The medal, which came with a certificate, was awarded unnamed.[8]
Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal certificate, awarded to PC Alan E Swain.
Eligibility and allocation
The Canadian medal was intended to award individuals who had been deemed to have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada. So that all regions of the country would be recognised equally, the federal, provincial, and civic governments all forwarded names to Rideau Hall, as did private organisations in the fields of the arts, sports, philanthropy, and charity. The full membership of the Order of Canada and Order of Military Merit, as well as all recipients of Canadian Bravery Decorations received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal automatically, while for members of the Canadian Forces, merit with length of service and prestige of current appointment was considered.[7]
The 30,000 medals awarded within the United Kingdom included 9,000 to armed forces personnel, with others given to members of the Royal Household and to people engaged in a wide range of activities, including industry, trade, local services, voluntary work, the arts, entertainment and sport.[5]
The following list includes notable Cook Islanders who received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal,[11] and is not an exhaustive list of recipients.
The following list includes notable New Zealanders who received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal,[11] and is not an exhaustive list of recipients.
^ abcTaylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). "Recipients of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: nominal roll of New Zealand recipients including Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau". Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. pp. 425–435. ISBN0-908578-34-2.
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