1976 QUEEN ELIZABETH II US BICENTENNIAL MEDALS

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 40, October 7, 2018, Article 28

As noted in an article elsewhere in this issue, Assay Commissioner Charlie Long of Charlottesville, Virginia helped create a Bicentennial medal for Queen Elizabeth II. But why - what was the connection? Well, Her Highness visited the former colony of Virginia in 1976. Here's an excerpt from an account of the event from the Daily Progress. -Editor

Queen Elizabeth visits Charlottesville 1976

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip paid a royal visit to Monticello and the Grounds on this day in 1976 as part of their six-day Bicentennial state visit to England’s former colonies. Hosting dignitaries had become commonplace for the city, but a visit from a royal brought a special sense of importance.

While Charlottesville would be a logical destination for a royal bicentennial visit with its deeply rooted ties to the Declaration of Independence, and despite a formal invitation from Governor Mills Godwin, “the real reason for her coming here was that one of her cousins who is an architect came to Charlottesville in the fall of ’75 on a private visit. He saw Monticello and the university and told the queen she absolutely had to come here during the Bicentennial.”

After the queen’s plane touched down at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, more than 50,000 people lined the motorcade route along U.S. 29. More than 18,000 assembled on the Lawn. Thousands lined the grounds of Monticello. All were hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal.

According to the queen’s private secretary: “She enjoyed her visit because it was so relaxed. They had this hectic, rather pompous schedule and then they got here. It was a beautiful day and everything went perfectly.”

To read the complete article, see:
Queen Elizabeth II paid a royal visit in 1976 (https://www.dailyprogress.com/125yearsofprogress/queen-elizabeth-ii-paid-a-royal-visit-in/article_49d1634a-6345-11e7-ae55-03c9ef3a1ff7.html)

A sale listing on Worthpoint provides some information. -Editor

“QUEEN ELIZABETH II: 1976 US BICENTENNIAL VISIT PROOF MEDAL SET By Frank Gasparro”

This is a rare chance to purchase a delightful set of medals that both captured and created a special piece of history. Frank Gasparro was commissioned to create the official medal for Queen Elizabeth’s Bicentennial visit to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. third President. The medal marks the first time in the 184 year history of the U.S. Mint that the Chief Sculptor and Engraver has created a coin or medal with the likeness of the Queen of England.

This truly is a highly collectable set of medals in excellent condition. The three medals are made from Solid Bronze, Sterling Silver and Sterling Silver with a 24kt Gold Layer. The sets were limited to 2500 sets of which this is number 94, all the medals have that limited edition number on them as well as the relevant hallmarks.