Item NU 34813 Medal - Tennyson Prize, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1900

Summary

Australia South Australia Adelaide
Tennyson Medal for English Literature, University of Adelaide Prize c. 1912 (AD)
Mint: Wyon, London
Other Details: In 1900 Hallam, 2nd Baron Tennyson (son of the Poet Laureate) presented the sum of £100 to the University of Adelaide to provide medals as awards for English Literature at the Public Examinations. The gift provided for the award of a gold medal for Leaving Honours standard, and silver medals each for Leaving and Intermediate standard examinations. The awards continue to be made. The portrait of Alfred Lord Tennyson seems to be derived from the frontispiece of The Death of Onone, Akbar's Dream, and Other Poems (1892).

Physical Description

An unissued specimen silver prize medal (28 mm diameter) featuring a profile bust of 1st Baron Tennyson, Poet Laureate.

Obverse Description

Profile bust of Alfred Lord Tennyson with the artist's name A. Wyon in small letters behind

Reverse Description

At centre within olive wreath, SOUTH / AUSTRALIA; around, TENNYSON MEDAL FOR ENGLISH LITERATURE

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

In 1900 Hallam, 2nd Baron Tennyson (son of the Poet Laureate) presented the sum of £100 to the University of Adelaide to provide medals as awards for English Literature at the Public Examinations. The gift provided for the award of a gold medal for Leaving Honours standard, and silver medals each for Leaving and Intermediate standard examinations. The awards continue to be made. National Library of Australia web site http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms479. -J. Sharples 20/11/2003.