Summary
Australia Victoria Melbourne
Senior 4 oared prize medal 1868 (AD)
Melbourne Regatta
Mint: W.J.Taylor, London
Awarded to: Edwards, S.
Other Details: This is a silver medal made in London for the Melbourne Regatta of 1868. It names S. Edwards as the coxswain in the Senior Four Oared Race. The medal features a classical representation of a River God, in this case to be understood as the Yarra, resting on an amphora from which the river begins to flow. The god holds an oar, representing rowing. The maker's name W.J.TAYLOR LONDON can be seen in small letters below the river. William Joseph Taylor, a London medallist and dealer, had tried to set up a mint in Melbourne in the early 1850s and retained links to the city. Other winners at the Melbourne Regatta received more generous prizes. At the 1862 Melbourne Regatta an engraved silver cup by one of Australia's finest early silversmiths, William Edwards, was awarded to the stroke, J.W. McCutcheon, for the Challenge Four Oared Outrigger Race.
Obverse Description
River god reclining right holding oar and amphora from which the river runs; in exergue in small letters, W.J.TAYLOR LONDON
Reverse Description
Engraved:MELBOURNE REGATTA/UPPER YARRA/1868/SENIOR 4 OARED/CIC RACE/ S.EDWARDS/COXSWAIN/W.J.TAYLOR LONDON
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
Other winners received more generous prizes. At the 1862 Melbourne Regatta an engraved silver cup by one of Australia's finest early silversmiths, William Edwards, was awarded to the stroke, J.W. McCutcheon, for the Challenge Four Oared Outrigger Race. The cup was advertised for sale for $6,500 by fine art dealer Peter R. Walker in 2004 (http://www.peterwalker.com.au/items.html). -D. Tout-Smith 9/1/2004.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1868 AD
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Issued By
Melbourne Regatta, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Mint
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Awarded To
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Inscriptions
Plain (edge) River god reclining right holding oar and amphora from which the river runs; in exergue in small letters, W.J.TAYLOR LONDON (obverse) Engraved:MELBOURNE REGATTA/UPPER YARRA/1868/SENIOR 4 OARED/CIC RACE/ S.EDWARDS/COXSWAIN/W.J.TAYLOR LONDON (reverse)
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Series
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Material
Silver
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Exhibition Collection Management
48 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Dimensions
4 mm (Height), 47 mm (Outside Diameter)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Shape
Round
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Keywords