Coombes, Charles Walter

10/01/1879

06/07/1942

Trained as a sculptor and studied anatomy at South Kensington, London and Berlin. Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1912, 1913 and 1914. Served in the First World War and was wounded. After the war, he undertook some memorial work, such as the Kendal war memorial. Application for employment at Royal Mint on 6.6.1923 where he was taken on as a temporary artificer, having demonstrated experience of all kinds of metal work, finishing, colouring and lacquering techniques. Appointed permanent Craftsman Grade II on 16.12.1924 and promoted to Grade I from 23.7.1936. Produced the models for the revised Britannia design which appeared on the trial coinage of Edward VIII, before being issued into circulation at the start of the reign of his brother George VI. Retired from 6. 7. 1939 but continued to do original work on medals and badges during the Second World.

References to Coombes in Royal Mint files found at the National Archives, Kew
MINT 20/1042 – Kedan Medals
MINT 20/1087 – Re-designing of existing medals
MINT 20/1108 – Crown Estate Commissioners Seal
MINT 20/1142 – Wax for Great Seal etc
MINT 20/1556 – George VI Decorations and Medals
MINT 20/1608 – South African Police Medals
MINT 20/1610 – Territorial Army Badge
MINT 20/1621 – National Defence Campaign? Badge
MINT 20/1625 - Dominican coinage
MINT 20/1649 – Burma Police Medal
MINT 20/1650 – Appropriation Account
MINT 20/1657 – Egyptian gold coinage
MINT 20/1662 – African Chiefs’ Badge
MINT 20/1682 – All Souls College Quincentenary Medal
MINT 20/1690 – Seals for Secretary of State for India
MINT 20/1700 – Coal Commission Seal
MINT 20/1719 – AAF, RAFVR Badges, etc
MINT 20/1725 – Southern Rhodesia Seal
MINT 20/1738 – British Medical Association Medal
MINT 20/1744 – MNR Badge
MINT 20/1756 – Ministry of Information Seal
MINT 20/1757 – Ministry of Food Seal
MINT 20/1758 – Ministry of Supply Seal
MINT 20/1794 – Iceland coinage
MINT 20/1898 – British Somaliland Badge of Honour