Calcutta International Exhibition 1883-84 x rare Award Medal

Century 18th century
Type MEDAL
Location India – British (British India)
Queen Victoria (1837-1901)
Type Award medals › Agricultural and industrial awards
Year 1883
Composition Bronze
Weight 53 g
Diameter 51 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Demonetized Yes
Number N#429096
References Pudd# 883.2.2, PCGS# 568628
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MEDAL:
The Calcutta International Exhibition was held in the Indian city now known as Kolkata from December 1883 to March 1884. There were exhibits from around the world, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey and the United States of America. As the exhibition occurred pre-Federation, each Australian colony exhibited separately, with representatives from New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria attending. Victoria did very well, gaining 38 gold medals, 60 silver and 53 bronze. Many of the exhibits were pastoral in nature, and wine producers in the region did particularly well, with 11 gold medals and eight silver. In May 1884, the ‘Sydney Mail’ reported that while WP Brown of Dandenong Road had won a bronze medal for tomato sauce and Sir William J Clarke of ‘Bolinda Vale’ won silver for wool, the Melbourne City Corporation had won a bronze medal for its ‘panoramic views of Melbourne’. The medal still resides in its original box in the collection. It features a portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse (front), dressed in the style of the Empress of India. The reverse (back) features an olive wreath, with the words ‘Awarded to’ at the top,. This isn’t surprising, as the winner usually had the medal inscribed after the award was presented to them.