Item NU 34771 Medal - Cessation of Transportation to Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia, 1853

Summary

Australia Tasmania
Cessation of Transportation to Tasmania 1853 (AD)
Mint: Royal, London
Other Details: This medal was struck to commemorate the end of transportation of convicts to Tasmania in 1853. It also marked fifty years since European settlement in Tasmania. News of the British decision to send no more convicts first reached Tasmania via Melbourne. It came from London on the steamer Harbinger and transferred to Launceston on the Yarra Yarra. At celebrations in Tasmania, children were given a piece of Demonstration Cake and a ticket entitling them to a medal. Nine thousand white metal medals were struck and an additional 100 were produced in bronze for people who had rendered services to the anti-transportation cause. 4,000 of the white metal medals were distributed in Hobart, 3,000 in Launcenson, and the remainder to country districts. The medal was initially enclosed in a maroon morocco case. Transportation continued in Western Australia until 1868. When it finally ceased throughout Australia, around 162,000 convicts had been transported.

Obverse Description

Head of Victoria laureate left; above, VICTORIA QUEEN; below, MDCCCLIII

Reverse Description

Australian Arms with emu and kangaroo supporters; around, CESSATION OF TRANSPORTATION 1853; in exergue, TASMANIA FOUNDED 1803

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

This medal was struck to commemorate the end of transportation of convicts to Tasmania in 1853. It also marked fifty years since European settlement in Tasmania. News of the British decision to send no more convicts first reached Tasmania via Melbourne. It came from London on the steamer Harbinger and transferred to Launceston on the Yarra Yarra. At celebrations in Tasmania, children were given a piece of Demonstration Cake and a ticket entitling them to a medal. Nine thousand white metal medals were struck and an additional 100 were produced in bronze for people who had rendered services to the anti-transportation cause. 4,000 of the white metal medals were distributed in Hobart, 3,000 in Launcenson, and the remainder to country districts. The medal was initially enclosed in a maroon morocco case. Transportation continued in Western Australia until 1868. When it finally ceased throughout Australia, around 162,000 convicts had been transported. -1994. Cessation of Transportation Medal. Australian Coin Review. D. Tout-Smith 17/11/2003.