Summary

Italy Tuscany Florence
Medal - Tuscan Horticultural Society Prize 1874 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Awarded to: Horticultural Society of Victoria
Other Details: Tuscan Horticultural Society prize medal, awarded to Horticultural Society of Victoria, but previously owned by Mueller. Mueller was the Victorian Government Botanist from 1852 until 1884, and the Director of the Botanical Gardens from 1857 to 1873. He was arguably Australia's most prominent 19th century scientist

Physical Description

A bronze prize medal (37 mm diameter) awarded to the Horticultural Society of Victoria through Baron Ferdinand von Mueller featuring Horticulture running right distributing flowers.

Obverse Description

Horticulture running right distributing flowers; around, ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZ. DI ORTICULTURA FIRENZE 1874 in exergue, PIERONI - FIRENZE

Reverse Description

Around on broad rim, R. SOCIETA TOSCANA DI ORTICULTURA * ; within (impressed) SOCIETA DI ORTIC / DI VICTORIA

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Mueller was invited to serve as juror for this exhibition, but declined. It is not known how the medal, awarded not to Mueller but to the Horticultural Society of Victoria, ended up in Mueller's hands. - Prof. R. W. Home 2005

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