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Medal - Commemorative Plaque 1851-1951, Andor Mészáros, Centenary of Government in Victoria and Centenary of the Discovery of Gold 1951

  • Circular bronze medal depicting a man and a woman riding a horse, in a small presentation box with a dark green velvet insert for the medal in the lower part and a light coloured textile printed with the dates 1851 and 1951 in the lid. Text on paper with a description of the medal next to the case.

    Medal - Commemorative Plaque 1851-1951.

  • Obverse/front of a circular bronze medal depicting a man and a woman riding a horse, and the words "EQUALITY AND JUSTICE / THROUGH FREEDOM" in raised letters around the edge.

    Medal - Commemorative Plaque 1851-1951 - obverse.

  • Reverse of a circular bronze medal with a stake surrounded by Australian floral motifs in the lower part and the words "CENTENARY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851-1951" in raised letters around the top edge, and "Preseneted to / The Shire of / Wodonga / 1951" in engraved letters in the centre. Black and white 5 cm scale in the foreground.

    Medal - Commemorative Plaque 1851-1951 - reverse with a 5 cm scale.

  • Circular bronze medal depicting a man and a woman riding a horse, in a small presentation box with a dark green velvet insert for the medal in the lower part and a light coloured textile printed with the dates 1851 and 1951 in the lid. Text on paper with a description of the medal next to the case.
  • Obverse/front of a circular bronze medal depicting a man and a woman riding a horse, and the words "EQUALITY AND JUSTICE / THROUGH FREEDOM" in raised letters around the edge.
  • Reverse of a circular bronze medal with a stake surrounded by Australian floral motifs in the lower part and the words "CENTENARY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851-1951" in raised letters around the top edge, and "Preseneted to / The Shire of / Wodonga / 1951" in engraved letters in the centre. Black and white 5 cm scale in the foreground.

Historical information

The bronze medal commemorates the centenary of the government of Victoria from 1851 to 1951, as well as the centenary of the discovery of gold and was presented to the Shire of Wodonga in 1951. It was commissioned by the Victorian Government in 1951 to commemorate 100 years of the separation of Victoria from the colony of New South Wales in 1851. The medal was designed by the sculptor Andor Mészáros (1900-1972) and minted by K.G. Luke in Melbourne.

Significance

The bronze medal has local, state and national significance, as it commemorates the centenary of 100 years of government in Vctoria. It also has aesthetic and social significance as an example of a limited edition bronze medal designed by the prominent sculptor Andor Mészáros, who is known for his work depicting the history, culture and sporting life of Australia.

Physical description

Bronze medal commemorating the centenary of the government of the State of Victoria from 1851 to 1951, and the centenary of the discovery of gold.
Obverse: In the centre of the medal, a man and a woman riding a horse and the inscription "EQUALITY AND JUSTICE / THROUGH FREEDOM" in raised letters around the edge. The man is holding a torch representing equality and the woman is blindfolded holding a sword representing justice. The horse has broken free of its shackles representing freedom.
Reverse: A stake surrounded by Australian floral motifs in the lower part of the medal; the inscription "CENTENARY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851-1951" in raised letters around the top edge, and "Preseneted to / The Shire of / Wodonga / 1951" in engraved letters in the centre.
The medal is in a small presentation box with dark green velvet lining an insert for the medal in the lower part and a light coloured textile printed with the dates 1851 and 1951 printed in the lid. A piece of paper with a text about the meaning of the inscriptions accompanies the medal and fits inside the lid of the small presentation case.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse: "EQUALITY AND JUSTICE / THROUGH FREEDOM" in raised letters around the edge.
Reverse: "CENTENARY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851-1951" in raised letters around the top edge, and "Presented to / The Shire of / Wodonga / 1951" in engraved letters in the centre of the medal.

Subjects

References

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