Medal - Victorian Humane Society Life Saving, Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Victoria, Australia, 1874

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A Issued By Melbourne, Australia
A Mint Melbourne, Australia
A Artist Melbourne, Australia
A Artist Melbourne, Australia
A Other Association (See Comments) Melbourne, Australia

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Australia, Medal for saving life, Obverse

Summary:: Australia Victoria Melbourne
Medal for saving life 1874 (AD)
Mint: Stokes & Martin
Other Details: This medal was created by the Victorian Humane Society in 1874 as an award for those who saved lives after shipwreck. The medal was the work of Julius Hogarth, a Sydney silversmith and engraver who came to Melbourne hoping to get work at the Melbourne Mint. This particular medal was not awarded, but was collected by one of the first Victorian medal collectors to take an interest in local work, George McArthur of Maldon. The Victorian Humane Society was founded the year this medal was issued. 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 National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	38 mm (Width), 38 mm (Diameter)

More information

Tagged with:	customs houses, life saving, life saving awards
Themes this item is part of:	Julius Hogarth, Jeweller & Medal Maker (1820-1879), Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of New South Wales, George McArthur, Collector & Baker (1842-1903), Public Life & Institutions Collection, Transport Collection, Hogarth, Erichsen & Co., Jewellers, Sydney, New South Wales, Victorian Humane Society, Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales, Thomas Stokes, Token & Medal Maker (1831-1910), Royal Humane Society of Australasia
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Life Saving Awards
Tertiary Classification:	shipwrecks
Series:	Award
DateEra:	1874 AD
Obverse Description:	Scene of man saving woman or child from burning and sinking ship; VICTORIAN HUMANE SOCIETY ; In the Exergue:ESTD 1874/STOKES & MARTIN MELBOURNE; in the field at sides of shell: J H;
Reverse Description:	VIRTUTE PARATUM within a wreath ; weakly struck at 06 : T S
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Plain (edge) Scene of man saving woman or child from burning and sinking ship; VICTORIAN HUMANE SOCIETY ; In the Exergue:ESTD 1874/STOKES & MARTIN MELBOURNE; in the field at sides of shell: J H; (obverse) VIRTUTE PARATUM within a wreath ; weakly struck at 06 : T S (reverse)
Shape:	Round
Material:	Bronze
Issued By:	Victorian Humane Society, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1874
Mint:	Stokes & Martin (Mint), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1874
Artist:	Julius Hogarth, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Artist:	Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other Association (See Comments):	Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1882 Re-named the Royal Humane Society of Australasia in 1882. For many years it was located in the Old Customs House, Flinders Street.
Bibliography:	[Thesis] Lugton, Mary E. 1989. George McArthur of Maldon: his Life and his Book Collection. [Article] Faringdon-Davis, John. 1984. The Royal Humane Society. Australian Numismatist. 5 (August): 2-15. [Catalogue] Morrison, Ian. 2003. The Baker of Maldon. [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