Medal - Children's Peace, Great War, Department of Defence, Australia, 1919

Search the collections

Summary:: Australia
Schools Victory medal 1919 (AD)
Mint: Stokes & Sons
Awarded to: School Children of the Commonwealth of Australia
Other Details: Of the commemorative medals issued to mark the end of the First World War, the most common was the so-called 'Peace' or 'Victory' medal issued to every child in Australia aged 0-14 years (and aged up to 16 if parents were in the armed forces). The medal was designed by Charles Douglas Richardson, better known for his work as a sculptor. Time constraints as well as pressure from the production of other victory medals meant that no single manufacturer could make the 1,670,000 medals. Six were therefore selected: Amor, Stokes, Schlank, Parkes, Angus & Coote (who later withdrew) and Platers. The medals were silvered bronze, with silver issues for special presentations. The Defence Department supplied a red, white and blue striped ribbon and pin. Distribution began in March 1919. Victorian school children received their medals on Friday 18 July and on 'Peace Day' on Saturday 19 July.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	70 mm (Height), 27 mm (Diameter)
Dimension Comment:	Height includes extended ribbon

Tagged with:	school children, wars conflicts, world war i 1914-1918
Themes this item is part of:	Childhood & Youth Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection, Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Commemorative
Tertiary Classification:	peace
Series:	Australian Commemorative Medals
DateEra:	1919 AD
Obverse Description:	Peace with two flying doves on pedestal inscribed, PEACE / 1919 below AUSTRALIA; figure in chains on left and another entangled in bush to right
Reverse Description:	Australian sailor and soldier support wreath; above, VICTORY; within, THE / TRIUMPH / OF / LIBERTY / AND / JUSTICE; below on plaque, THE PEACE OF 1919
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	PEACE 1919 AUSTRALIA VICTORY THE TRIUMPH OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE THE PEACE OF 1919
Shape:	Round and ribbon
Material:	Silvered Bronze
Issued By:	Department of Defence, Australia, 1919
Mint:	Stokes & Sons (Mint), 1919
Artist:	Douglas Richardson, 1919 This is may be Charles Douglas Richardson - it is executed in his style - but Carlisle says Douglas Richardson. -D. Tout-Smith 5/2/3004.
References:	Car.1919/2
Bibliography:	[Article] Carlisle, Leslie J. & Fleig, Peter. 2002. The Great War Children's Peace Medal. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 13: 48-72.