Medal commemorating AHS 'Maine', South Africa and China. 1899-1901. Obverse: Port broadside view of the 'Maine', flying three masthead flags: Geneva Cross, Union Jack and US Ensign. Above: The American Eagle with wings outstretched and bearing the seal on his breast. In his beak he holds a ribbon streaming down on either side, inscribed 'Presented by the American Ladies Committee'. Below: The Geneva Cross. Reverse: Within a laurel wreath, tied with ribbon below, the inscription 'To HM Queen Victoria in commemoration of the A.H.S. 'Maine' South Africa & China. 1899-1901'.

The original gold and enamel version of this medal was presented to King Edward VII at Marlborough House on 22nd July 1901. 'The Sheffield Evening Telegraph', 23rd July 1901, reported: “The King’s American Medal. On one side of the [gold] medal originally intended for Queen Victoria, and presented to the King by the deputation of American ladies yesterday, is a representation of the Maine, with a red cross in enamel below it, and above it an American eagle”.

In 'The Reminiscences of Lady Randolph Churchill' (1907), p. 460, the author notes: “In accepting it his Majesty said that ‘the fact that it had been intended for his beloved mother made it specially valued and that the culminating present of the ship to the British Government he trusted would always remain as a lasting link of friendship between the two countries’”.
This silver version, and a single bronze version are known to exist, and may have been struck as keepsakes for members of the Committee of American Ladies.

[information supplied by Mr Neville Constantine, September 2016].