Description
CANADA 1867 Confederation Medal 76mm bronze medal by J.S. & A.B. Wyon 265 grams Leroux 1185, McLachlan 476, Breton 90, Eimer 1590, BHM 2875
Obverse: left-facing bust of a crowned Queen Victoria, wearing a veil covering the back of her head and neck, inscribed "VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F D :" with the artist name, "J.S. WYON SC." below the truncation
Reverse: allegorical group represented by a seated female figure (Britannia) with helmet, shield emblazoned with the Union Badge, trident in hand, attended by a seated lion, extending a scroll with the Charter of Confederation and inscribed "CONFEDERATION" (representing the British North America Act, the law passed by the British Parliament in 1867 that provided for the unification of the Canadian provinces into the Dominion of Canada) to four female figures that are grouped at the right in front of her, each representing a province and holding a symbolic device, clockwise from the top are: Ontario (a sickle and sheaf, representative of agriculture), Quebec (with a fleur-de-lys on her shoulder, holding a canoe paddle, representative of commerce), Nova Scotia (a shovel, representative of mining), and New Brunswick (an axe, representative of forestry), inscribed in Latin "JUVENTAS ET PATRIUS VIGOR/CANADA INSTAURATA 1867" (Youth and Patriotic Strength/Canada Inaugurated 1867), "J.S. & A.B. Wyon SC." maker mark at the monarch's feet.
If you could have but one medal in your collection to represent Canada this would be the one.
An Order in Council was approved on 18th September 1869 authorizing a remaining balance of £350.3.4, acknowledging that ‘a sum of £710.19.2 has already been paid.’ Any money exceeding the appropriation was to be allocated under ‘Unforeseen Expenses.’ The Wyons were to strike one example in gold for Queen Victoria, fifty in silver, and five hundred pieces in bronze. Regrettably Queen Victoria's gold example is missing from the Royal Trust Collection.
For a full history of the medal please click the link below
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/medals/1867-confederation-medal.html
