The Royal Victorian Medal was created at the same time as the Royal Victorian Order in 1899. It was awarded for personal service to the sovereign to people who were not eligible for the Order.
The award did not come with a warrant, but a certificate accompanied the medal. Certificates were numbered during the reigns of Edward VII and George V. The numbers refer to the entry in the register of medallists.
Seal
Initially the certificate did not use the seal of the Royal Victorian Order, but by 1920 a smaller blind stamped version of the seal was impressed on the certificate.
Other Signatures
The sovereign does not sign the certificate, but it is signed by the Secretary of the Order.
Examples of the Certificates
Nurse Ann Shephard (1907)
The number at the top left hand corner is the number in the register of medallists.
Private Edgar Charles Carew (1910)
A certificate for a bronze medal for the funeral of King Edward VII.
Ernest Lines (1920)
In this case the register number is in the bottom right hand corner, with the G indicating George V.
EP Capell and D Simpson (1936)
An unusual example of consecutively numbered certificates.
Ernest Lines (1939)
A certificate for a gold medal. Note that it is unnumbered.
Cyril Hailey (1948)
Henrique De Moura (1976)
Note that the certificate is unsigned (presumably in error).