Summary

Australia Victoria Melbourne
Medal - Melbourne International Exhibition Prize Plaster Obverse Pattern 1880 (AD)
Artist: Altmann, Ernst A

Other Details: This is the original plaster for the obverse of the 1880 Melbourne International; Exhibition prize medal obverse. It features a bust of Queen Victoria, wearing small crown and veil facing left. The legend MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MDCCCLXXX runs around the rim and the artist's neme, E.A. ALTMANN in in tiny letters on the truncation of the bust. Altman won the prize for designing the best medal, but it was considered too difficult for the Melbourne Mint to produce. For the reverse design see NU 20758; for Stokes competition entry see NU20384. The Melbourne International Exhibition ran from 1 October 1880 to 30 April 1881. The exhibition building that still stands was constructed for the occasion, designed by Joseph Reed and built by David Mitchell. Over 1.3 million people visited the exhibition at a time when Melbourne's population was only around 282,000.

Physical Description

Plaster for the obverse of the 1880 Melbourne International; Exhibition prize medal obverse. It features a bust of Queen Victoria, wearing small crown and veil facing left. The legend MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MDCCCLXXX runs around the rim and the artist's neme, E.A. ALTMANN in in tiny letters on the truncation of the bust.

Obverse Description

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MDCCCLXXX, Veiled head of Queen Victoria facing l., E.A.ALTMANN under neck truncation

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Ernst Altmann won the commission to make a medal for the 1880 Melbourne Exhibition with this piece, but this design was rejected because it was considered too difficult to strike. Eventually a modified form of L.C. Wyons portrait of Queen Victoria was used, combpined a with reverse entered in the competition by Harry Stokes. -Sharples, John P. 1990. Medals as art: Australia and the Meszaros tradition, p.16. -D. Tout-Smith 17/9/2003.

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