Jubilee of Australian Federation medal, 1951

This is an example of the medal given to school children to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Australian Federation in 1951. The design was chosen after a competition, with the valuable cash prize of two hundred guineas. It was won by John Wolfgang Elischer for his depiction of a man hand-sowing wheat. The wheat has grown to represent the seven States of Australia on the other side of the medal.

Click to enlarge. (49kb)

Click to enlarge. (48kb)

Obverse – A man hand-sowing seeds of the future of the nation with the legend 1901 1951.		Reverse – The legend FIFTY YEARS COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA below a seven-pointed star and above seven ears of wheat, representing Australia's States and the Northern Territory.

Transferred from National Gallery of Victoria, 1976