Medal - Swimming Proficiency, Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Victoria, Australia, 1874

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Australia, Swimming Proficiency, Obverse

Summary:: Australia Victoria
Swimming Proficiency 1874 (AD)
Mint: Stokes & Martin
Other Details: 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. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia was founded in 1874 as the Victorian Humane Society. In 1882 it became 'The Royal Humane Society of Australasia', the first federal institution in Australia. The first object of the Society was to bestow award upon people who risked their lives to save others; the second object was to assist recipients who were disadvantaged or disabled as a result of their brave actions, or to assist their surviving dependents. Initially the Society also arranged swimming and lifesaving training, but other organisations later took over this role. For many years the Society was located in the Old Customs House, Flinders Street.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	4 mm (Height), 52 mm (Width), 52 mm (Diameter)

More information

Tagged with:	life saving awards, sport, swimming
Themes this item is part of:	Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of New South Wales, Leisure Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection, Transport Collection, HRH Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales, Royal Humane Society of Australasia
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Life Saving Awards
Tertiary Classification:	swimming proficiency
Series:	Award
DateEra:	1874 AD
Obverse Description:	Scene of life saver rescuing man, sailing ship, lighthouse and rising sun in background; above, BENE NARE VITAM SALVARE; in exergue above un-engraved scroll, PRESENTED TO
Reverse Description:	Small crowned head of Queen Victoria within wreath; below, AWARDED / FOR PROFICIENCY IN / SWIMMING / WITH REFERENCE / TO SAVING / LIFE; around, THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA . INSTITUTED 1874 .
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Plain (edge) Scene of life saver rescuing man, sailing ship, lighthouse and rising sun in background; above, BENE NARE VITAM SALVARE; in exergue above un-engraved scroll, PRESENTED TO (obverse) Small crowned head of Queen Victoria within wreath; below, AWARDED / FOR PROFICIENCY IN / SWIMMING / WITH REFERENCE / TO SAVING / LIFE; around, THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA . INSTITUTED 1874 .(reverse)
Shape:	Round
Material:	Bronze
Issued By:	Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Victoria, Australia
Mint:	Stokes & Martin (Mint)
Date Issued:	1874
Person Depicted:	HM Queen Victoria
Bibliography:	[Book], Colin Bannister, Seven Thousand Brave Australians: a History of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia 1874-1994, Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Melbourne, 1996 [Article] Faringdon-Davis, John. 1984. The Royal Humane Society. Australian Numismatist. 5 (August): 2-15.