Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Medal - Exhibition Silver Prize Medal Sydney 1854 (AD)
Mint: Wyon, London
Awarded to: Fortey, John
Other Details: A large silver prize medal (72 mm) from dies cut by L.C. Wyon and struck at the Wyon mint in London. The designs were developed in Australia by T. Andrews and F.C. Terry of Sydney. The Products of New South Wales Exhibition was held to select New South Wales exhibits for the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855. It opened at the Australian Museum on 14 November 1854. Silver medals were the first class awards. This medal was won by John Fortey for his tobacco exhibit.

Physical Description

A large silver prize medal (72 mm) depicting on the obverse a youthful New South Wales, holding a sheperd's crook being led by hand by Britannia, helmeted and holding a trident to be presented to France who is seated on a throne decorated with an eagle and holding a sceptre over her right shoulder. A kangaroo stands behind New South Wales watching the presentation. The reverse depicts scenes of life in New South Wales from the arrival of sailing ships, including mining, raising cattle and sheep, and harvesting wheat by hand.

Obverse Description

A youthful New South Wales, holding a sheperd's crook being led by hand by Britannia, helmeted and holding a trident to be presented to France who is seated on a throne decorated with an eagle and holding a sceptre over her right shoulder; around above, HIC LAURI DULCIOR USUS; in exergue in small letters the artist's name L.C.WYON.F and in larger letters the date of the Paris exhibition, MDCCCLV

Reverse Description

At centre within a beaded circle, PRODUCTS/OF/NEW SOUTH WALES/SYDNEY/1854/L.C.W. around, scenes of rural and mining activities, and ships under full sail entering the Heads

Edge Description

Engraved, PRESENTED TO MR JOHN FORTEY,THE EXHIBITOR OF NSW TOBACCO

Significance

On 15 September 1853 the Legislative Council of New South Wales appointed a Select Committee of six men to arrange exhibits for the 'Exposition Universelle' to be held in Paris in 1855. The Select Commitee recommended that a Commission be appointed to gather exhibits. A Commission of 36 men was issued on 21 January 1854, responsible for collecting, selecting, arranging and transporting the exhibits to Paris. The Commissioners formed themselves into separate committees to supervise Departments of Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Products, and Arts and Manufactures. Premiums and prize medals were offered as incentives. First class medals were silver; second class medals were bronze. The Commissioners also decided to hold a public exhibition of the articles selected before they were shipped to Paris. The preliminary exhibition opened at the Australian Museum on 14 November 1854.

The medal design was offered as a competition, with a premium of 15 guineas for the winner and 5 guineas for the runner-up. The successful artist was C.W. Andrews, with a design of Britannia introducing Australia to France. The design was used on the obverse of the medal. The runner-up was Mr F.C. Terry, with a design of a deep border featuring illustrations including a view of Sydney Heads with a ship entering, a flock of sheep, and gold digger at work, and so forth. The design was used on the reverse of the medal. Both designs were subsequently altered by the Commissioners, possibly to make them suitable for striking. They were struck in London by Wyon. -Davies, S. 1992. The 1854 Products of New South Wales Medal. NAA Journal. 6 (February). -D. Tout-Smith 23/10/2003.

More Information