100844 | GREAT BRITAIN. "No Colonial Slavery"/Reform Bill white metal Medal.

100844 | GREAT BRITAIN. "No Colonial Slavery"/Reform Bill white metal Medal. Issued 1831. The Reform Bill Presented (45mm, 34.94 g, 12h). By T. Halliday.

 

Circular medallion with head of William IV right above circular medallion with head of Lord Russell left; to left and right respectively, oval medallions with heads of Earl Grey left and Lord Brougham right; all garlanded together; below, sideways anchor draped in ribbon inscribed THE CONFIDENCE / OF THE PEOPLE in two lines / THE DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE / THE / REFORM BILL / TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS / NO STANDING ARMY / NO UNMERITED PENSIONS / NO TITHES / NO CORN LAWS / NO STAMP TAXES / NO EAST INDIA / MONOPOLY / NO COLONIAL SLAVERY in 12 lines, some of which are on banners. Edge: Plain.

 

BHM 1536; Eimer 1244. Choice Mint State. Exceedingly lustrous and mirrored, with some typical, lightly scattered marks. A rare and interesting type. Compare to a somewhat inferior example in Heritage 3031, 20 January 2014, lot 28492 (an NGC MS-62 PL, which realized a total hammer of $368).

 

The Reform Bill of 1831 set forth numerous issues which were of importance to the Reform party of the time, including no stamp taxes, no London monopoly on East India trade, and an abolishment to colonial slavery, though major reforms to representation and the squashing of tiny, bought-and-sold parliamentary seats was of vital interest.. The bill carried by a one vote majority, though parliament was dissolved shortly thereafter. Upon reconvening, the Reform party secured a larger majority, with the bill passing by a greater total. Earl Grey introduced the bill to the House of Lords, but it was defeated by 41 votes. Not giving up, Earl Grey, under the authority of King William IV, was tasked with creating language to ensure the bill's passage the following year in 1832, finally passing on 4 June and receiving Royal Assent three days later. The abolition of colonial slavery, one of the reforms that didn’t make it in this language, passed in a separate act the following year in 1833.

 

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