Century-old John MacDonald, Inverness Medal

The medal to the right apparently was won by Pipe Major John MacDonald, Inverness. The question is, which contest would it have been from and when?

The medal was discovered at an antique shop in Edinburgh, and was snapped up by a piping enthusiast who prefers to leave his name out of the discussion.

It’s 18kt gold, and is apparently handmade with very delicate craftsmanship throughout. On the reverse of the medal is simply engraved, “John MacDonald, Inverness.”

The hallmark dates its casting as 1896, but this does not necessarily mean that it was won then, since multiple castings are often made for subsequent years. Therefore, the medal would have been won sometime between 1896 and 1910.

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