Harry Stokes was a medal artist at the firm of his father Thomas, Stokes. He was known as a particularly gifted die sinker, signing himself 'H.S.' Museum Victoria holds medals he designed from 1880 to 1901.

Stokes travelled around the world on a Bassett high wheel bicycle with George W. Burston in 1889. The bicycle is in the Museum's collection (ST 16415).

The design that Harry Stokes entered into a competition for the 1880 Melbourne Exhibition medal was used on the obverse of the medal, with a modified form of a portrait of Queen Victoria by L.C. Wyon. Although the commission to make a medal was won by Ernst Altmann, Altmann's design was rejected because it was considered too difficult to strike.

References:
Sharples, John P. (1990). Medals as Art: Australia and the Meszaros Tradition, p.16.
Stokes, Tom (14974). A Short History of Stokes Limited. Australian Coin Review. August, pp.15-16.

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