Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition, Council, City of Melbourne, Photographic views, Medal, Bronze
Summary
Queen Victoria's golden jubilee marked 50 years of her reign and it provided Adelaide with an opportunity to host its first international exhibition. It opened to great fanfare on 21 July 1887 and closed on 6 January 1888, but not before 789,672 people - more than twice Adelaide's population at the time - had paid up to a shilling each to visit. Melbourne City Council was among the prize winners, awarded a first order of merit for its 'photographic views', for which it received this large bronze medal and a diploma. Interestingly, the medals are quite common but the diplomas are considerably rarer. There was no obvious place on the reverse to engrave the winner's details; but we know this is the council's medal, as the awardee's name is printed on the inside of the lid of the presentation box.
The reverse of this 75mm-diameter medal simply states 'First Order of Merit', surrounded by a wreath of Australian native flowers, fruits and vegetables. The obverse features Queen Victoria, around which is written 'Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition'. Under the portrait, '1887' is in written in Roman numerals and, in smaller text, the engraver, EA Altmann, is named, with 'Melbourne', indicating the medal was struck by the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint.
Ernst August Altmann was a jeweller, die-maker and engraver based in Swan Street, Richmond. He focused on dies for agricultural society medals and on exhibition medals. Altmann was also responsible for the medal commemorating the laying of the foundation stone of Melbourne Exhibition Building, in 1879.
This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.
