How to Identify the King's Silver Jubilee Medal
Collector checks for the 1935 jubilee medal: conjoined George V and Mary profiles, MCMXXXV date, castle reverse, metal, and authentication.
Read the full King's Silver Jubilee Medal encyclopedia entry →
Begin with the format. This is a medal, so expect a round piece with no denomination, no face value, and often no coin-style mint mark. If your item shows a shilling, crown, or other value, it is a coin and not this commemorative medal.
Read the obverse. The defining feature is two overlaid royal heads in profile, both facing the same direction, representing King George V and Queen Mary. Confirm the Roman-numeral date MCMXXXV (1935) and note the surrounding lettering, recorded on this example as VAILLAME MCMXXXV. The paired portraits plus the 1935 date are what separate a Silver Jubilee medal from later coronation or jubilee souvenirs.
Check the reverse. It should show a fortified castle with towers and battlements above the Latin motto STET FORTUNA DOMUS. This castle-and-motto reverse is a strong identifier; coronation and other jubilee medals typically use crowns, dates, or different legends instead.
Assess size and metal. Weigh and measure the piece and look for a hallmark or maker's name on the edge or field, which many 1935 issues carry. Solid silver examples will show assay marks and ring true; silver-plated base-metal souvenirs will not, and worn plating may reveal a different color beneath. A suspension loop indicates it was made to be worn.
Watch for look-alikes and condition issues. The 1935 jubilee produced many private and civic medals with similar portraits but different reverses and legends, so match both sides before attributing yours. Beware of harsh cleaning, added loops, or solder marks that lower value, and when metal content matters, confirm silver by hallmark or professional testing rather than by color alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know it is a jubilee medal and not a coronation medal?
The Silver Jubilee medal is dated 1935 (MCMXXXV) and pairs George V with Queen Mary. Coronation medals carry different dates and legends; match the year and portraits to be sure.
Should it have a mint mark?
Not in the coin sense. As a medal it may instead carry a maker's name or a silver hallmark on the edge or field, which help identify the specific issue and its metal.
What confirms the reverse type?
Look for a fortified castle with towers above the Latin motto STET FORTUNA DOMUS. That castle-and-motto pairing is the key reverse diagnostic for this piece.
How can I tell solid silver from plated?
Check for a hallmark, weigh and measure the medal, and look for plating wear at high points that reveals a different base metal. Professional testing settles doubtful cases.