Description
QUEBEC Montreal High School William Murray Prize 57.42 bronze medal 98.23 grams Leroux 1425, McLachlan 169, Breton 133
Obverse: PROTESTANT BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CITY OF MONTREAL / J.S. & A.B. WYON
Reverse: HIGH SCOOL OF MONTREAL / WILLIAM MURRAY PRIZE ✠ FOUNDED 1874 / FOR / GENERAL / PROFICIENCY / IN / SCHOOL / STUDIES / J.S. & A.B. WYON
From 1853 to 1870 the school was known as the High School For McGill College
Nineteenth century numismatist Robert Wallace McLachlan writing in his 1886 publication, Canadian Numismatics states that, " Mr. Murray in his will left provision that a prize should be founded to be presented annually to the Boy's High School. The Commissioners decided that the prize should be in the form of a silver medal; dies were ordered from Messrs. Wyon. A second prize in the shape of a bronze medal is also offered"
For the Protestant School Board medals Leroux gives all three (1425, 26 and 27) the same rarity rating of 5, and McLachlan a 4. Based on current auction records Leroux 1425 is scarce, and 1427 certainly more plentiful. The only other example of the William Murray medal that I have seen in online auction archives was in the Michael Joffre sale which for $218.30 with the auction fees included
William Murray (c1810 - 1874) came to Montreal from Scotland in 1832. He was originally with the Phoenix Insurance Company and took part in forming the Montreal Assurance Company. Was also the principal mover in forming the Mount Royal Cemetery Co, the Protestant House of Industry and Refuge and the High School.
