Aust Historical Medals

Lot 513    Session 2 (11.30am Wednesday)    Aust Historical Medals

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,100

THE MACROBERTSON (VICTORIA) CENTENARY AIR RACE, bronze gilded medal (34mm) with ribbon, obv. International Air Race 1934, by Stokes, bust to right of Sir MacRobertson, rev. London to Melbourne, 1934 - 1935 with map of Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia, with route traced across the globe, suspension bar inscribed MacRobertson, attached to blue ribbon (C.1934/5). Uncirculated and rare.

Ray Jewell, in an article titled 'The MacRobertson (Victoria) Centenary Air Race', in the Numismatic Association of Association Journal, Volume 4, describes the original gold issue and then notes that 'there exist replicas of the official medals which are gilded copper. These are quite rare and some mystery surrounds their origin. It has been said that these replicas were given to the ground staff who looked after all the aircraft that finished. A small group of men, and if this is correct it would explain the rarity. That all existing specimens have a Melbourne origin helps to add weight to this theory' (p.10). He further states he believes all were cast and not produced by Stokes. The above example is clearly die-struck.