We examine a pair of Georgian silver medals awarded by the "Loyal Edinburgh Spearmen". This quaintly named force was one of the multitude of amateur military units that sprung up in the late 18th and early 19th century to combat the real - or imagined - threat of French invasion or popular revolution. Described in their own day as "The Awkward Squad" and in ours as the "Georgian Dad's Army", the "Volunteers" allowed the middle classes to play at soldiers from the safety of their own towns and cities. They were mercilessly lampooned at the time as being hopelessly unfit for duty and Edinburgh's loyal spearmen were no exception.

Illustrations from a 16th century manuscript detailing the phenomenon of Nuremberg's Schembart Carnival, (literally "bearded-mask" carnival). Beginning in 1449, the event was popular throughout the 15...