Sold

Percy Metcalfe bronze Kings Trophy Competition medal for the National Rifle Association

This fabulous bronze medal is by Percy Metcalfe and was struck for the National Rifle Association's Kings Trophy Competition between 1925-30. The obverse depicts a kneeling semi-clad male archer looking left to right with a fully drawn longbow. The words "For Special Distinction NRA. " are stamped around the edge and the initials "PM" for Percy Metcalfe. The reverse has an elaborate cartouche with the Royal Coat of Arms at the top and the words " Presented by the King to encourage youth in the hope that friendly competition and efficient training may help it to forge new links of Empire" The words "Kings Trophy Competition" are round the edge and it bears the initials "PM" for Percy Metcalfe.

Approximate dimensions:
Weight: 2.3ozs - 65gms
Diameter: 1.97ins - 5cms



Percy Metcalfe
(1895-1970)
English artist sculptor & designer.
He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art London. He produced many designs for Ashtead Pottery between 1923 and 1936. One of his noted sculptural works is the bronze war memorial in Durban, South Africa.
Percy Metcalfe was an accomplished designer of coins. His designs (with some modifications) were used for the reverse and obverse of all coins issued by the newly founded Irish Free State, although he was an Englishman. He undertook the work for the Irish Currency Commission of 1926, which was chaired by the poet W. B. Yeats. The coinage depicted various farm animals, with a harp on the obverse. In 1938 he re-designed the obverse harp for all the coins to improve the reverses of the Penny and the Half Crown.
Metcalfe also designed the obverse of the 1935 Australian florin, showing George V. It was his only design for the Australian Commonwealth series, although the same design was used on Rhodesian, New Zealand and Fijian coinages.
He also designed an image of a crowned George VI used for the obverse of many British and colonial coins including the 1937 Canadian unofficial pattern dollar. A similar image was used for the Australian Service Medal in 1945 (NU 18701).

In 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth embarked on an unprecedented visit to North America. To commemorate the visit, the Royal Canadian Mint struck three series of commemorative medallions. The obverse, featuring the conjoined profiles of George VI and Elizabeth was designed by Percy Metcalfe; it was also used on the 1937 British Coronation Medal.