Victoria - 1843 Medal of the Opening of Thames Tunnel, London

Country: England (United Kingdom)
Queen Victoria (1837-1901)
Type: Medal / Token
Year: 1843
Currency: Medals - United Kingdom
Composition: Pewter Alloy (white metal)
Weight: 14 g
Diameter: 36 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Grade: AU53
Shape: Round 
Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑

Commemorative issue:
Medal for the Opening of Thames Tunnel, London 1843.

Obverse:
Relief of the Wapping Entrance with twin tunnels and grand staircase. Legend in exergue with and the cost and the date of the start of construction and the opening date.

Lettering:
THAMES TUNNEL BEGAN 1824
OPEN 1843 COST ￡446000 

Engraver: Joseph Davis.

Reverse:
Relief of the exit from the twin tunnels and grand staircase. Highlighted legend with the name of the architect and the dimensions of the tunnels.

Lettering:
THAMES TUNNEL 1200 FT LNG
76 FT BELOW HGH WTR
SIR I.M.BRUNEL ARCHT.

Engraver: Joseph Davis 

Edge:
Plain.

Comments:
The medal was struck to commemorate a noteworthy project in London. Marc Brunel's Thames Tunnel, opened in 1843, nearly 20 years after it was first proposed. The Thames Tunnel was not a commercial success and is little known but it was of great significance. It was the world's first underwater tunnel, and the principle of Brunel's tunnelling shield served as the starting point for every subsequent tunnel project.

Source : https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumi...

Collection : Exonumia