City of Melbourne Incorporation centenary medal 1942

Angus & Coote

Registration number

1089568

Artist/maker

Angus & Coote

Title

City of Melbourne Incorporation centenary medal

Production date

1942

Medium

silver (medal); dark blue leather, red velvet, cream silk, metal clasp (box)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

5.8 cm (medal diameter); 0.6 cm (medal depth); 2.3 x 8.1 x 8 cm (box)

Inscriptions

Face: CITY OF MELBOURNE / VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO / INCORPORATED AD 1842 Verso: 1842 1942 / THIS MEDALLION WAS STRUCK BY / THE MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL / TO COMMEMORATE THE / 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE / INCORPORATION OF THE INHABITANTS / OF THE TOWN OF MELBOURNE. / 12TH AUGUST. 1942. / FRANK BEAUREPAIRE / LORD MAYOR. / H.S. WOOTTON / TOWN CLERK. / STD B11 (?)

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Incororation, Centenary, Medal, Frank Beaurepaire, H.S. Wootton

Summary

The City of Melbourne issued a medal in 1942 to commemorate the centenary of the council's incorporation. As World War II raged in the Pacific, jeweller and medal-maker Angus & Coote of Sydney enterprisingly sent a telegram to Melbourne's lord mayor, Sir Frank Beaurepaire, asking if he would be interested in a centenary medallion similar to the one the company had made for Sydney. An initial order was placed for 85 medals to be issued to various dignitaries and council members, whose names were to be engraved on the edge. After striking, sufficient silver remained to strike an additional nine medals, so a total of 94 examples of this 58mm silver medal were struck. The medal dies were sent to the council, and the reverse die remains in the Art and Heritage Collection, along with a number of medals that were not conferred. This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.