Extremely rare early Scottish football medal, being a runners-up medal from the first ever Dumbartonshire Cup Final from the season 1884 - 85.
This beautifully designed medal is in solid silver which has been heavily gilded. Although the medal is not hallmarked it has been professionally tested using a non-invasive precious metal purity testing machine which shows a silver content of 82.637 % and a gold content of 11.034 % ( this suggests some elements of the medal are solid gold (possibly the applied thistles) or a lot of high quality 24 ct gold gilding has been used). The precious metal content for the whole of the medal would work out at 2.649 ct gold. The final photos show the purity certificate which will be passed on to the medal buyer.
The front of the medal (to which has been added a brooch fitting) depicts thistles & flags with a central shield which has been engraved with the name of the medal winner, "M. Gilles". It is further engraved:
"D.F.A. (Dumbartonshire Football Association) VALE OF LEVEN FOOTBALL CLUB"
The obverse is engraved:
"D.F.A. DUMBARTONSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCN. Cup Competition 1884 - 85. RUNNERS UP"
Gilded Silver Medal: Weight: 14.4 gm. Width: 28 mm. Height (excluding ring): 40 mm.
Dumbartonshire Cup 1884 - 85: On their way to the Final, Vale of Leven beat Jamestown 4 - 1, Vale of Leven Wanderers 2 - 1 & Dumbarton Athletic 1 - 0.
The Final was held on 28th March 1885 at Tontine Park, Renton with Vale of Leven losing 3 - 0 to Dumbarton.
Vale of Leven FC: The original club was based in Alexandria and was founded in 1872. They were one of the most successful teams in Scotland in these early days and became founder members of the Scottish Football League in 1890 although they withdrew after 2 seasons.
In 1905 they were readmitted to the SFL Second Division and became runners up in 1907 & 1909. After the end of the war they returned to a reformed Division 2 but struggled from then onwards, becoming amateur before finally folding in 1936. A new Vale of Leven FC was reformed in 1939.
Vale of Leven won the Scottish Cup three times in 1877, 1878 & 1879 and were runners up four times.
Summary: As can be seen from the photos & history (above) this is a rare early Scottish football medal, a runners up medal from the first ever Dumbartonshire Cup Final from the 1884 - 85 season. Good luck!
NOTE: Please see my other listing of a 15ct gold winner's medal from the second ever Dumbartonshire Cup Final from the 1885 - 86 season, won by Vale of Leven FC.