Summary

Australia Victoria Melbourne
Prize Medal - Melbourne 1866 Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia
Artist: Charles Summers
Manufacturer: W. Calvert
Awarded to: Ferdinand von Mueller
Other Details: This is one of 648 medallions produced to be awarded to exhibits of excellence at the Intercolonial Exhibition. An additional 50 for special merit like NU 35543, mounted in frame beside this piece were also issued. This medal was mounted in the large rectangular frame beside Dr. Mueller's special merit medal for display on the wall of the Board Room of the old Museum, Library and National Gallery. In the exergue is the name of the exhibition curved around at the bottom, INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION VICTORIA 1866-7 and the name of the winner of this medal Dr. Mueller.

Physical Description

At right, the personification of Victoria, standing facing left and holding palm in left hand while receiving her "six sisters" who each bring a contribution; Behind Victoria is a Lion's head perhaps representing one of the lions that flanked the Museum (where the Exhibition was held). Behind the 'six sisters' an ancient ship's prow. Around above, the Latin FACIES NON OMNIBUS UNA NEC DIVERSA TAMEN QUALEM DECET ESSE SORORUM [translates as: "They all look different and yet alike : as sisters would"]. The exergue legend reads in three lines MEDAL AWARDED TO DR. MUELLER INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION VICTORIA 1866-7.

Obverse Description

On the right, the personification of Victoria, standing facing left and holding palm in left hand while receiving her "six sisters" who each bring a contribution; Behind Victoria is a Lion's head perhaps representing one of the lions that flanked the Museum (where the Exhibition was held). Behind the 'six sisters' an ancient ship's prow. Around above, the Latin, FACIES NON OMNIBUS UNA NEC DIVERSA TAMEN QUALEM DECET ESSE SORORUM [translates as: "They all look different and yet alike : as sisters would"]. In exergue MEDAL AWARDED TO: / DR. MUELLER / INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION VICTORIA 1866-7; in tiny letters on left, C. SUMMERS, SCULP; in tiny letters on right, W. CALVERT, FECIT

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia was held on the site of the Public Library, in new wings that eventually became the site of the Industrial and Technology Museum in 1870, a forerunner to the Science Museum of Victoria and Museum Victoria. The medal was designed by Charles Summers and manufactured by William Calvert, a Melbourne-based lectrotypist and ornamental printer. -D. Tout-Smith 6/1/2004.
Two certificates awarded to Mueller from this exhibition are at the Melbourne Botanic Garden. - Prof. R. W. Home ,Dec 2005.

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