Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (June 22 1897) marked the 60th anniversary of her reign, celebrating her as the longest-reigning British monarch at the time. The event was a massive imperial spectacle, reflecting Britain's global dominance and Victoria's status as the "Grandmother of Europe." In reflection, Victoria was a perpetrator of many colonial atrocities, but she's hardly the first ruler to have done that (having spent some time studying her namesake, Queen Elizabeth 1, let me say YIKES.) For the celebration, souvenirs were pumped out en masse like this commemorative pendant with her young face on one side and her older face on the other.
MATERIALS: 14k gold (tests), enamel, leatherette box
AGE: 1897
CONDITION: Very good - the image of the older Queen Victoria has faded a bit
SIZE: 7/8" length including the bale, 5/8" diameter