This is the Royal Humane Society of Victoria's medal for proficiency in swimming and life saving. The medal was struck by the Melbourne firm Stokes and Martin who donated this piece to the Melbourne Mint as an example of their medallic work.

Royal Humane Society swimming medal, obverse.

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Royal Humane Society swimming medal, reverse.

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Obverse – A proficient swimmer in the act of rescuing a man, in the background the rising sun, a sailing ship and a lighthouse. Above the swimmer is the legend in Latin BENE NARE VITAM SALVARE [To swim well, to save life]. Below him, above a scroll on which a recipient's name could be engraved, is the legend PRESENTED TO. The maker's name can be seen in tiny letters below the scroll.		Reverse – A small image of the crowned head of Queen Victoria within a wreath above the legend AWARDED FOR PROFICIENCY IN SWIMMING WITH REFERENCE TO SAVING LIFE. Around the edge is the legend THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA INSTITUTED 1874.

Transferred from Melbourne Mint, 1978