Portugal, Kingdom. A King Don Carlos I Coronation Medal 1889, I Class Silver Grade

(Medalha de Coroação do Rei Dom Carlos I). Instituted in 1889. In silver, obverse illustrating the left-facing bust of King Don Carlos I, inscribed "D. CARLOS I REI DE PORTUGAL" above and engraver marked "V. ALVES", reverse inscribed "28 DEZEMBRO DE 1889" within an open-ended wreath composed of two branches of oak leaves, measuring 32.7 mm (w) x 35 mm (h) inclusive of its integral screwpost, edge nicks, bruised, contact marks, original ribbon, fine. Footnotes: 1. The King Don Carlos I Coronation Medal was instituted on December 28, 1889 and was presented as a Royal household award on foreign visits, in two grades: I Class Silver and II Class Bronze. 2. Dom Carlos I was born on September 28, 1863 at Ajuda Palace in Lisbon. He was known as the Diplomat, the Martyr, and the Oceanographer, among many other names, and became King of Portugal on October 19, 1889, his coronation having taken place on December 28, 1889. He was assassinated at Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon, on February 1, 1908, at the age of 44, after the royal family had just returned to Lisbon from the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa in Alentejo, where they had spent part of the hunting season during the winter. The King died immediately, his heir Luís Filipe was mortally wounded, and Prince Manuel was hit in the arm, the Queen alone escaped injury. The two assassins were killed on the spot by police. Dom Carlos I was the first Portuguese king to die a violent death since King Sebastian in 1578.