A Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals

This audio guide walks you through a curated selection of English medals on display in the British Museum’s Medal Room. Each piece, reproduced as careful electrotype or coloured plaster cast, is described in clear detail, from the metal and size to the inscriptions that record pivotal moments in the nation’s past. As you listen, the guide’s chronological approach lets the medals become vivid snapshots of Tudor intrigue, civil war, and empire‑building, while also noting the modest artistic ambitions of their creators.

The narration follows the museum’s case labels, introducing early Tudor issues, the flourishing of personal portrait medals, and the later military and naval decorations that conclude the collection. Special attention is given to the work of noted medallists such as Stephen of Holland and the Simon brothers, allowing listeners to compare styles within the same era. With fresh plates produced by the Autotype process, the tour offers a concise yet rich portrait of three hundred years of English history as told through its metal “tokens.