45mm. Silver. 40.62g. By E. Fuchs.
Obverse with bust of Princess Beatrice, reverse with signature.
Polished and therefore bright, housed in contemporary fitted blue velvet case.
This intriguing medal does not seem to be referenced in any major works and we cannot locate another example. It's reason for being and it's exact date of manufacture are unknown. However, in 1900 Fuchs struck a silver medal to celebrate 'The Entry of the Reign into the New Century' (BHM 3659) which simply featured a bust of Queen Victoria to the obverse, and a facsimile of her signature to the reverse. It therefore seems likely that this is a similar piece, although who commissioned it and how many were produced is unclear. It is presumably very rare. It is not impossible to imagine that similar medals may be extant, with other portrait/signature combinations, for other members of the Royal Family.
On 11th June 2014, DNW sold one of the 1900 Victoria medals (lot 502), that was also accompanied by a small 27mm silver medal, featuring Edward, the then Prince of Wales. The reverse of that medal bore his signature and a date. The footnote to that listing reads: It seems that both these pieces form part of what is now a long-forgotten and undocumented series of sculptural medals of the royal family by the artist Emil Fuchs (1866-1929), authorised by Victoria to mark the turn of the new century, and were perhaps intended by her to be used as gifts.