Medal commemorating the visit of Italian President Francesco Cossiga

Medal commemorating the visit of Italian President Francesco Cossiga 1988

Maker unknown

Registration number

1091928

Artist/maker

Maker unknown

Title

Medal commemorating the visit of Italian President Francesco Cossiga

Production date

1988

Medium

sterling silver (medal); blue and red velvet, white silk (box); red, white and green ribbon

Dimensions (H x W x D)

3.8 cm (medal diameter); 0.3 cm (medal depth); 2.2 x 6.8 x 6.8 cm (box)

Inscriptions

Face: CIRCOLO ITALIANO CAVOUR 1917 Verso: VISITA / PRESIDENTE COSSIGA / MELBOURNE LYGON / ART FESTA / 15.10.1988 / 925

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Melbourne, Presidente Cossiga, Italy, Lygon Art Festa, Italian Cavour Club, Medal, Civic gifts, 1988

Summary

In 1988, the Italian president, Francesco Cossiga, visited Melbourne and opened the Lygon arts festival. To mark the occasion, the Italian Cavour Club, founded by and for Melbourne's Italian immigrants in 1917, issued a silver medallion. The obverse features a portrait of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, with the name of the club in Italian and '1917' around the rim. The blank reverse has been engraved with 'Visita Presidente Cossiga / Melbourne Lygon Art Festa' and the festival's opening date of 15 October 1988. The number '925' hallmarked at the bottom indicates that the medal is composed of sterling silver. This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.