The Roar Heard Around The World
By Denis Richard, Coin Photography Studio
April 12, 2024
8-minute read
1924 British Empire Exhibition Medal
THE BRITISH EMPIRE. Even its name evokes imagery of a grand and mighty nation. This once vast kingdom was at its peak during the 1920s, with territories spanning an astonishing 13.71 million square miles - close to a quarter of the world's land area - and it remains the largest empire in human history.
To celebrate its position at the forefront of the world stage, the Empire decided to hold a grand exhibition. Named the British Empire Exhibition, it boasted a new sports stadium and an unprecedented display of its many territories' various cultures, industries, and achievements. It was, in the words of an official promotional booklet, "...a vast window display."
As we near the exhibition's 100th anniversary and look back on its many exonumic contributions, one medal, in particular, stands out as a symbol of the event's grandeur and legacy—the British Empire Exhibition Medal 1924. The majestic lion on the reverse has long been a symbol of English identity and holding this bronze beauty in your hand, you’re transported back to the age when this grandiose exhibition enamoured the world, and the roar of English lions echoed around the globe.
The Event.
Exhibition Poster
Held at Wembley Park in north-west London, the exhibition aimed to boost the nation's morale amid the aftermath of World War I and the devastating impact of the Spanish flu. However, it also had a second goal: to increase trade among the nations of the empire. For this reason, only commonwealths, colonies, and territories under the British Empire's jurisdiction participated. This decision might seem limiting, but with over 412 million people living under British rule, or 23 percent of the world's population at that time, the potential for economic growth was enormous.
A 1924 postcard featuring the Empire Stadium, later known as Wembley Stadium. The iconic Twin Towers became its signature feature.
After years of planning and construction, the exhibition opened on St George's Day, April 23, 1924, with regal fanfare. Before 120,000 cheering spectators, in the first radio broadcast by a British monarch, King George V proclaimed, 'I declare this Exhibition open.'
Visitors were treated to exhibits from across the empire, brought to London and displayed in elaborate pavilions. Everything from replicas of the Taj Mahal and a working coal mine to a Wild West Rodeo Championship and a life-size sculpture of the Prince of Wales with his horse made entirely of butter.
Canadian Pavilion, Prince of Wales in butter, 1924.
The Never-Stop railway moved guests around the grounds, and true to its name, it never stopped. Passengers had to hop on and off when it slowed down at the platforms. The carriages ran by gripping a revolving screw thread running between the tracks in a pit. The carriages could be sped up or slowed down to a walking pace at stations.
The exhibition was an enormous success, with over 27 million visitors attending during its two-year run and more than one million people visiting in its opening week alone. As is customary with world fairs, manufacturers struck a dizzying array of medals and souvenir tokens to mark the occasion. Some were issued officially, while private firms and businesses produced others for promotional purposes. Many of these medals were minted onsite and made available for purchase from various stands and kiosks across the exhibition's 216-acre site.
The Inspiration.
Sir Lawrence Weaver
The year before the exhibition gates opened, in 1923, Sir Lawrence Weaver, the coordinating architect, was tasked with organizing and overseeing the British exhibits for display. Weaver wanted a symbolic lion, representing the pride and strength of the British Empire, as an emblem. As England's national animal, the lion has long been a symbol of Englishness and would become a recurring theme throughout the exhibition. Various types of lions were designed for distinct purposes, each with a unique grace and strength. The different designs included the official emblem, the exhibition medal featured here, commemorative stamps, the Lion of Industry, and concrete lion statues at the entry of the Government Pavilion, among others.
Art Deco lion
The official emblem of the exhibition, the Art Deco lion—named after an art style that flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920s to early 1930s—was designed by J. C. Herrick and appeared on almost all official print publicity and leaflets for the exhibition, including Cup Final tickets and even the stadium flag. This design would set the tone for many of the lion-theme pieces to follow.
The Artist.
Percy Metcalfe
Among his many accomplishments, Sir Lawrence Weaver founded Ashtead Potters Ltd. (1923-35) to provide employment opportunities for ex-servicemen disabled during the First World War. One of the representative artists for Ashtead was Percy Metcalfe, an English artist, sculptor, and designer. Metcalfe suffered severe injuries during the war, with his leg shattered. This injury eventually led him to abandon sculpture, unable to stand for extended periods.
Lion of Industry
With Weaver's encouragement, Metcalfe was commissioned to create a symbolic lion befitting the "modern British Empire" for the top of the Lion Kiosk inside the Palace of Industry. The result was the "Lion of Industry," pictures right, meticulously sculpted by Metcalfe in his studio in Barnes, in southwest London.
The interior of the Palace of Industry with Metcalfe’s lion atop the Lion Kiosk.
The Competition.
Meanwhile, the Royal Mint introduced the concept of a series of awards and competitions associated with the exhibition, and a committee was already in place to advise the Deputy Master of the Mint on coins, medals and decorations. The exhibition organizers decided on two commemorative medals: the official award medal for exhibitors and the other as a souvenir for public purchase.
A design competition, dubbed the inter-Imperial Competition for the Commemorative Medal of the Exhibition, invited ten distinguished designers to present their visions for the exhibitor's medal. Design competitions have been a long-standing tradition in art, providing artists and designers with opportunities to showcase their talent and creativity.
The competition was sponsored by the Goldsmiths' Company, officially known as The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies in the City of London with a 700-year history. Today, the Goldsmiths' Company still undertakes the Trial of the Pyx, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality of coins minted by the Royal Mint.
The Medal.
Percy Metcalfe's iconic art deco design submission, a roaring lion sejant affront the Empire Stadium's twin towers, embodied the event's elegance and grandeur. Inspired by his design for the Lion of Industry, it caught the eye of the advisory panel and ultimately won. Metcalfe's lion symbolizes strength, courage, and majesty—all qualities on which the British Empire prided itself.
The medal was struck at the Royal Mint in London, although it bears no mint mark. The matt finish and dark toning of this and some other bronze medals connected with the exhibition are due to a series of experiments that the Royal Mint carried out at the time. I'll update this blog if I find out the details of those experiments. If you know, please leave a comment below.
At 2.4 ounces, this medal feels substantial, and together with its smooth texture and elegant design, impressed Sir Lawrence Weaver when he held the sample, prompting him to write Mr. R.A Johnson of the Royal Mint in a letter dated May 21, 1924,
"Many thanks for your letter of the 19th with samples of the medals which I think looks really beautiful. Metcalfe's lion seems to me a triumph."
Metcalfe's elegant medal, shown here in its original presentation case, was the official award for exhibitors. However, they were distributed without the recipient's name engraved on the edge, making it impossible to identify the specific awardee unless they opted to have it engraved privately.
The Other Side.
Metcalfe's lion shines as the centrepiece of this medal, so it's easy to forget two artists were involved in its creation. The obverse features a portrait of King George V, designed by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The abbreviated Latin legend reads GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP, meaning George the Fifth, King of all Britons and Emperor of India. The bust of the King used here was well established, having previously appeared on colonial coins.
The End of an Era.
The British Empire Exhibition was intended to close on September 1, 1924. Although popular with most visitors, it was a financial disaster, so it was decided to reopen it for a further season in 1925 to recoup costs. By the time it closed on October 31, 1925, the exhibition had lost around £1.5 million. Despite this, it was considered a great success in showcasing the British Empire and its accomplishments. It was also a celebration of British pride and patriotism, which would soon be tested by the economic turmoil of the following decade.
The Legacy.
The British Empire Exhibition medal was Metcalfe's first work for the Royal Mint, but it wasn't his last. He would go on to design numerous other medals and coins, but it was his vision for this piece that established Metcalfe and solidified his place in numismatic history.
And as for the medal itself, it was indeed a triumph. The 1924 Exhibition Medal is a brilliant example of excellence in design and its ability to capture the essence of an event. After 100 years, it remains one of the outstanding medals of this historic exhibition.
Read More.
After the exhibition, most buildings were demolished; however, the Empire Stadium and the Palace of Industry remained. The Empire Stadium was renamed Wembley Stadium, and is as famous now as it was then. Wembley stood for 78 years until it was replaced in 2003.
They say "The king of the jungle never goes out of style", and while the exhibition buildings may be gone, some of the lions that adorned them are still with us.
Palace of Industry
The Palace of Industry became a warehouse and would become the longest-standing building from the 1924 exhibition. In 2013, it finally met its end, demolished to make way for a temporary car park. Before the demolition teams brought it down, workers salvaged three decorative pre-cast concrete lion head corbels used as flagpole mounts on the exterior walls. Shown left, two of the lion head corbels are partly cut from the Palace of Industry wall.
The lions head flag pole mounts on the exterior of the Palace of Industry.
Thanks to efforts made to preserve these pieces of history, one of these two-ton lion heads was erected on a plinth on Wembley Hill Road, Wembley, to mark the exhibition's 90th anniversary.
British Government Pavilion
During the exhibition, six massive lions fronted the British Government Pavilion. Designed by Benjamin Clemens, they were a popular feature in photographs and postcards. The lions are in a gentle, seated position with a greater emphasis on realism and less art deco stylization, subtly contrasting Metcalfe's more aggressive lion.
Two of these giants found a new home flanking the entrance to Woburn Safari Park.
A Final Thought.
Thank you for reading this blog post! I hope you found it informative and enjoyable.
If you're interested in similar topics, be sure to check out our other posts on numismatic subjects. From coin history to coin photography, we have lots to offer.
Don't forget to leave a comment below with your thoughts and feedback. We love hearing from our readers and it helps us improve our content.
Thank you again for your support and we hope to see you back here soon! Happy collecting!
Coin References
British Historic Medals #4193
Daniel Fearon: SPINK'S Catalogue of British Commemorative Medals # 375.2
Christopher Eimer: British Commemorative Medals and their Values # 1987
History of Wembley and Tokyngton
History of the British Empire Exhibition
https://wembley1924.com/history-of-the-british-empire-exhibition
1924 Percy Metcalfe British Empire Exhibition medal
Medal -
British Empire Exhibition 1924
Numista › Exonumia › United Kingdom, British
Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies › United Kingdom
'A vast window display': The British Empire Exhibition of 1924-5
British Empire Exhibition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire_Exhibition
Percy Metcalfe (1895 – 1970)
https://ashteadpottery.com/percy-metcalfe
The Goldsmiths' Company
https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/about
Visualising and Experiencing the British Imperial World: The British Empire Exhibition at
Wembley (1924/25) -Jiyi Ryu
https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/21902/1/JiyiRYU_PhD%282018%29_Volume%20I.pdf
View an interesting video about the BEE from the Smithsonian. Link here
