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- A Artist London, United Kingdom
- B Issued By Sydney, Australia
- B Mint Sydney, Australia
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Medal - International Exhibition, Sydney, Silver Prize, Specimen, New South Wales, Australia, 1879-1880
Reg. No: NU 20568
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- Summary:
- Australia New South Wales Sydney
International Exhibition Prize 1879 - 1880 (AD)
Mint: Sydney
Awarded to: Not issued
Other Details: A small silver prize medal (51 mm) featuring a view of the imposing Sydney Garden Palace Exhibition Building, built to house the International Exhibition. The medal includes an allegorical figure of New South Wales standing in front holding the colonial shield and surrounded by exhibition goods. This is a specimen striking collected by the Melbourne Mint and may have been exhibited by them at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The small rim knick at obv. 12 may have been made by a mounting pin at that time. The Sydney International Exhibition was the first true international exhibition that an Australian colony had hosted. Previous exhibitions had been local or intercolonial. The International Exhibition was held in a purpose-built building at Inner Domain, featuring 15 acres of display area and a main dome 210 feet high. Four towers of this 'Garden Palace' provided spectacular views of the city and harbour, and the galleries were illuminated with stained glass skylights. The Exhibition was opened by His Excellency Lord Augustus Loftus on 17 September 1879, whose arrival in Sydney from England the previous month as the new Governor of New South Wales had been received with great enthusiasm. The Exhibition attracted over 1.1 million visitors, at a time when the population of New South Wales was 739,385. Awards for exhibitors were announced by the judges on the closing day, 20 April 1880. Gold, large silver, small silver and bronze medals and diplomas were awarded. The medal's obverse was based on a design by Samuel Begg and subsequently altered by J.S. and A.B. Wyon, who prepared the dies. The wreath of Australian flowers on the reverse was designed by James W. Sayers. The gold and silver medals were struck at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, and the bronze medals were struck in London. About 7,554 awards were made. The exhibition was so popular that the government purchased many of the prize exhibits and set up the Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum, the grandparent of the Powerhouse Museum. The Garden Palace burned down in 1882. - Description:
- A small silver prize medal (51 mm) struck at the Sydney Mint from dies supplied by J.S. & A.B. Wyon of London. It features a view of the Sydney Garden Palace Exhibition Building with a figure of New South Wales standing in front holding the colonial shield and surrounded by exhibition goods. This is a specimen striking collected by the Melbourne Mint and may have been exhibited by them at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The small rim knick at obv. 12 may have been made by a mounting pin at that time.
- Acquisition Information:
- Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978
| Discipline: | Numismatics |
| Dimensions: | 51 mm (Diameter) |
| Weight: | 61.23 g (Weight) |
More information
| Tagged with: | exhibitions |
| Themes this item is part of: | Royal Mint, Medal Makers, Sydney, New South Wales, Public Life & Institutions Collection, J.S. & A.B. Wyon, Engravers, London, England, J.S. & A.B. Wyon, Engravers, London, England, Branch Mints of the Royal Mint |
| Primary Classification: | MEDALS |
| Secondary Classification: | Civil |
| Tertiary Classification: | exhibition prizes |
| Series: | Australian Exhibition Medals |
| DateEra: | 1879-1880 AD |
| Obverse Description: | Figure of New South Wales surrounded by works of industry before exhibition building; around, * INTERNATIONAL * EXHIBITION * SYDNEY N.S.W.* M.D.CCC.LXXIX in exergue, waves, below these waves in tiny letters the artists names, J.S. & A.B. WYON |
| Reverse Description: | Wreath of Australian native flora below, J.S.& A.B. WYON (On issued medals the winner's name etc. engraved in the central space) |
| Edge Description: | Plain |
| Inscriptions: | Plain (edge) Figure of New South Wales surrounded by works of industry before exhibition building; around, *INTERNATIONAL*EXHIBITION* SYDNEY N.S.W.* etc. (obverse) Wreath of Australian native flora below, J.S.& A.B. WYON (reverse) |
| Shape: | Round |
| Material: | Silver |
| Issued By: | Australian International Exhibition Commissioners, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1879-1880 |
| Mint: | Royal Mint, Sydney Branch, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1879 |
| Artist: | Joseph Wyon, London, England, Great Britain |
| Artist: | A. Wyon |
| Artist: | Mr James Sayer |
| Artist: | Mr Samuel Begg |
| References: | Hock.p.261 |
| Bibliography: |
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Themes
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