ROYAL SWORDS

Temporal Justice
A little bit of history
The Sword symbolises the monarch’s authority and role as a leader in war. The delivery of the Sword in the coronation means the Germanic Warrior Tribes. The introduction of Swords into the coronation ceremony is probably an example of the early churches common practice of Christianising pagan customs.
These 3 swords are carried before the monarch during the service and procession. These swords symbolise different aspects of the sword offering. They are called the Sword of Spiritual and Temporal Justice and the Sword of Mercy (Curtana). The custom of bearing 4 swords (which includes the Sword of State) was probably initiated by Henry IV in 1399, previously 3 swords were used being the old Regalia used at Charles I coronation
The Sword of Mercy is an 11th century sword with later additions. It has a steel blade inlaid with copper and a wire bound grip. The scabbard is covered with velvet and embroidered with gold thread. The blade started as a normal pointed sword which has been cut off about 1” from its original point. Length (sword) 38 inches, Blade 31.75 inches, Scabbard 33.25 inches, Width (cross) 7.5, Blade a base 1 inch
Sword of Justice is an 11th century sword with later additions. It has a steel blade inlaid with copper and a wire bound grip. The scabbard is covered with velvet and embroidered with gold thread. The blade has a double gutter which is offset from the centre It has a running wolf mark with traces of copper inlay. Length (sword) 46 inches, Blade 39.25 inches, Scabbard 40.25 inches, Width (cross) 7 inches Blade at base 1 inch
The Sword of Temporal Justics is an 11th century sword with later additions. It has a steel blade inlaid with copper and a wire bound grip. The scabbard is covered with velvet and embroidered with gold thread. The blade is straight gradually tapering to a leaf shaped point. It has an oblong ricasso and a single narrow gutter which is offset from the centre. Length (sword) 45 inches, Blade 39 inches, Scabbard 40 inches,Width (cross) 8 inches, Blade at base 1.5 inches

Sword of State
A little bit of history
The Sword of State was made in 1678 and has been used in the coronation of all monarchs from George IV onwards and possibly from James II
The Sword of Temporal and Spiritual Justice and of Mercy did not become a permanent part of the Regalia until after the coronation of Charles I in 1626. The present sword dates back to the seventeenth century.
The two symbolic functions attached to the sword in the English coronation are the defence of the church and the defence of the people. The delivery of the sword symbolises the transfer of the Kingdom into the care of the King or Queen.
The Sword of Mercy which is used in the present coronation ceremony is called the CURTANA, and has the characteristic truncated blade – meaning – lack of a point symbolising the mercy that should temper the sharpness of royal justice.
Little is known of the appearance of the Sword of State or its whereabouts after the coronation of Charles I. The last record of it was in 1770. The present sword of state was made in 1678, and has been used in the coronation of all monarchs.
The Sword of State is a large broad sword which was purchased in 1678. The hilt is fashioned to represent the lion and the unicorn, while the crimson velvet scabbard bears the Royal Arms of William III and Mary II. It is carried not only at the coronation but also on other State occasions , usually by the field marshal or other high ranking personage.
The sword weight 83oz and the scabbard weighs 34 oz.

THE AMPULA AND ANOITING SPOON

The Ampula and Anointing Spoon
The Ampula and Anointing spoon are the two oldest objects in the coronation. The Ampula is a vessel of fine gold in the shape of an eagle. It contains the holy oil which is used to anoint the Sovereign. The head unscrews to admit the oil which is poured out through the beak. The date of the body of the eagle is said to be around the fourteenth century, but the goldwork, wings and base was probably added in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II.
The silver gilt anointing spoon into which the oil is poured is believed to date from the 12th century with evidence of it use at the coronation of King John in 1199. The stem of the spoon is chased and set with four freshwater pearls.
At the anointing ceremony the Sovereign waits in readiness for the anointing – the wearing of white denoting purity of purpose and spirit. This is a fourteenth century custom which was revived by James I and Charles I. Their predecessors had worn a red shirt beneath their rich red outer robes. A canopy of held over the Sovereign during this most sacred part of the ceremony. The four bearers at Queen Elizabeth II coronation were Knights of the Garter. Like George VI before her, Queen Elizabeth was anointed in the old order of the hands, breast and head

QUEEN ELIZABETH GOLD BRACELETS

New gold bracelets of Queen Elizabeth II 1952-1953
Queen Elizabeth II is one of the few monarchs since the Restoration to have been invested with the bracelets.
A new pair of gold bracelets were made for her coronation in 1953 and a symbol of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Each bracelet is fitted with an invisible hinge and a spring catch which is operated by a cast Tudor rose.
Crimson red velvet linings conceal the inscription engraving on each bracelet “Presented for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Ceylon and Southern Rhodesia

CHARLES II ARMILLS

Charles II Armills 1611
The bracelets or armills are ancient biblical symbols of the regality. They have been used as royal insignia since the twelvth century. The bracelets which were lost in the Interregnum were jewelled.
Their replacements which were made for the coronation of Charles II were made of enamelled unmarked gold (with later alterations) and supplied by Sir Robert Vyner in 1661. The upper and lower rims are decorated with two mouldings of light blue enamel which forms a herringbone pattern effect.
The band is decorated with four national emblems separated by a pair of dark blue fleurets with the occasional addition of red pellets. The motifs as on the Queen Consort’s armill are the rose, thistle and fleur-de-lis.
These items have a long history as royal ornaments in the East, and well as the Germans, the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons. The Romans considered them only suitable for women. They were probably worn around the arm rather than the wrist

THE ORB

The Orb
The Globe shape of the Orb is 6 inches in diameter and signifies to world and its sovereign’s power. The cross surmounting it denotes Christian rule. The present sovereign’s orb was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661.
The orb is made of gold, it is hollow and decorated with 365 diamonds, 9 emeralds, 9 sapphires, 18 rubies and 1 octagonal amethyst which sits just below the cross, and 1 glass.About 368 pearls are set at the edges of the zone and its arc, and 7 pearls decorate the cross.
Originally, the orb was decorated with imitation pearls but these were replaced in 1930. The orb was among the few ornaments made for the coronation of Charles II to have stones purchased for it.

THE ROYAL SCEPTRE

The Royal Sceptre
The Royal Sceptre which is held in the Sovereivn’s right hand during the coronation is made of gold surmounted by a magnificent diamond encrusted cross with an emerald in the centre. Below the cross is a splendid amethyst and below that is what is believed to be the world’s largest diamond. This is a pear shaped brilliant known as The Star of Africa. It was set into the sceptre in 1910.
The Star of Africa is the only gem in the royal regalia whose history is accurately recorded.
It was cut from an immense diamond which was found in 1905 by Mr. Frederick Wells, manager of the de Beers Premier mine in South Africa.

Walking through the mine he saw what he believed to be a large piece of crystal protruding from the rock face. He dug it out with his walking stick.
He took the stone to Sir Thomas Cullinan who was President of the de Beers. It proved to be the largest diamond ever found, an unbelievable 3106 carats. It was named the Cullinan and presented to Kind Edward VII on his birthday in 1907 by the Transvaal Government with a request that it should be set into the Crown of England. The diamond was far to large to be used, and the King decided to have it split.
A man called Mr Asscher from Amsterdam was chosen to undertake this difficult task, and the story goes, that as he delivered the blow to split the diamond, he fainted. When he was shown how perfectly he had succeeded he fainted again.
The two pieces were later sub divided. The first and largest piece, the Star of Africa of 530 carats was set into the Royal Sceptre. The second Star of Africa was set into the Imperial State Crown. The 3rd and 4th Star of Africa is worn by the Queen as a brooch. The last major works carried out on the sceptre was in 1910
Weight: 37oz. (1.6 kgs) Length 36.5 inches

THE IMPERIAL CROWN JEWELS OF IRAN

Weight
182 carats (36 g)
Color
Pale pink
Cut
Tabular, free-form. Inscribed.
Country of origin
India
Mine of origin
Golcond

The treasury of Iranian National Royal Jewels accommodates the world's most precious jewelry collection. The treasury has an interesting history, going back centuries. The actual value of the treasury is not known. I the past 25 centuries, the Iranian kings were compiling jewels and ornaments whenever the country was in peace. The royal courts and the treasures of the Sassanid kings, Khosrow Parviz in particular, are mythical and have a special place in history books.

The Imperial crown jewels of Iran (also known as the Imperial crown jewels of Persia) include several elaborate crowns and decorative thrones, thirty tiaras, and numerous aigrettes, a dozen bejewelled swords and shields, a vast number of unset precious gems, numerous plates and other dining services cast in precious metals and encrusted with gems, and several other more unusual items (such as a gemstone globe) collected by the Iranian monarchy during its 2,500-year existence. The collection is kept at "The Treasury of National Jewels" which is its official name, but goes by the street name of "Jewelry Museum". It is situated inside Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tehran's Ferdowsi Avenue. The Imperial crown jewels of Iran is the largest jewelry collection in the world.[1