Temperance Society/ Band of Hope, bronze medal circa 1860 by Joseph Moore

Obv: A man and a woman each side of a heraldic shield, holding banners, his with SOBRIETY, hers with DOMESTIC COMFORT, the lamb of God on Bible above, STAND FIRM above lamb, in exergue on banner BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, with TEMPERANCE SOCIETY below, FORTITUDE and FIDELITY at edges.

Rev: Two pairs of clasped hands forming a cross, BAND OF HOPE on belt around

Diameter: 38mm; Condition: Good very fine, obverse about extremely fine, pierced for wearing, rare.

Notes: The Temperance Movement began in the United States and swiftly spread to England. There are many varieties of British Temperance medals, which are now becoming quite scarce. Those in bronze are particularly rare, especially in good condition as here. The Band of Hope was in effect a junior Temperance Society for children, begun at Leeds in 1847. The obverse of this medal was probably struck from an earlier die dating from the 1830s.

Price £50