Charm, souvenir bracelet charm

Souvenir bracelet charm commemorating the Coronation of King Edward VII. The charm comprises a gilt metal hinged locket with clasp enclosing a portrait of King Edward VII in his coronation robes and crown. A small ring at the top of the locket enables it to be attached to a chain or charm bracelet. This coronation souvenir was purchased by Ernest King for one penny (1d) from a London street trader on 22nd February 1902. Purchased several months before the coronation it shows an artist's impression of the crowned King.
Ernest King first purchased a souvenir commemorating the coronation of King Edward VII in August 1901, nearly a year before the ceremony took place. However, he did not purchase a second souvenir until January 1902 and between this date and the original coronation date of 26th June 1902 the steady rise in his purchases indicates that the range and variety of souvenirs sold by street traders gradually increased over these months reaching a peak on 25th June. Although the Coronation was delayed until August due to the King being struck down with appendicitis on 24th June Ernest King only purchased one coronation souvenir after the 25th June. This suggests that manufacturers stopped producing souvenirs after June presumably assuming Londoner's enthusiasm for souvenirs and the coronation had reached a peak by this point.