Commemorative Medals

Lot 2944    Session 11 (9.30am Thursday 24 November) Leslie J Carlisle C    Commemorative Medals

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

CESSATION OF TRANSPORTATION, 1853, bronze (58mm) by the Royal Mint, London (C.1853/2). In original fitted case, this damaged, toned with traces of mint red, choice uncirculated and very scarce in this condition.

A law for the Cessation of Transportation was passed by British Parliament and the news conveyed to Tasmania on 10 August 1853. A medal to commemorate the event was produced by the Royal Mint in London and in 1855 a shipment of 9,000 white metal medals and 100 bronze medals was received. The white metal issues were primarily distributed to school children in Tasmania and the bronze were awarded for services rendered in the 'anti-transportation cause'.

In the South Australian Register, an Adelaide newspaper, on Wednesday 22 August 1855, page 3 it was reported that a 'medal to Commemorate the Cessation of Transportation, several of the medals which have been struck to commemorate the cessation of transportation to the colony of Van Diemen's Land, have been awarded by the Tasmanian Committees to persons in New South Wales who took an active part in the anti-transportation movement. Amongst others, Mr. Cowper, M.LC., President of the Anti-Transportation League, Mr. Parkes, M.L.C., and Mr. Gilbert Wright, have received the medal, which is of bronze, and is 2-1/4 inches in diameter.

On the obverse is the profile of Her Majesty, very neatly and firmly executed, and by no means an unfaithful likeness. The inscription on the obverse is simply 'Victoria Queen, MDCCCLIII.' The reverse has the Australasian Arms, with the supporters, the kangaroo and the emu, and bears the inscription, ' Cessation of Transportation, 1853 - Tasmania founded 1803.' The design of the medal is remarkably chaste and neat, and its appearance is at once simple and elegant. It is a tasteful memorial of the event it is designed to commemorate, and forms an appropriate recognition of the services of those who took a foremost part in the movement which resulted in the cessation of transportation to Van Diemen's Land, and thus gave the death-blow to the convict system in these colonies.'

It is significant that the reverse design of the medal, referred to above as the Australasian arms was the coat-of-arms adopted by Australia following federation.