Coins & Banknotes Public Auction 342

1910 Royal Society of Arts Presidents Prize Medal. Head of George V left rev Inscription within wreath. AR 55mm 91.67gm. Instituted 1901. B.H.M. 3714. Eimer 1917. Struck at the Royal Mint with dies by E. Fuchs & W L.C.Wyon. While E Eimer does not rate this medal as rare, L Brown rates it as so. The true rarity of importance is revealed by the edge inscription 'C.E.W BEAN, M.A. Wool Industry in the British Dominions Session' 1912-13. C.E.W Bean, grandson of an East India Company surgeon, was born at Bathurst in 1879. After an Oxford Education in both Classics & the Law, he became a well known journalist. He went to Egypt as a civilian correspondent with an Honorary Captains rank & was ashore on Gallipoli on the 25th of April. He was to win fame for his bravery & it was his drive of energy that helped found the Australian War Memorial. At first working at "Tuggaranong" the Cunningham Family property. Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean went on the be the major editor/author of the multi-volumed official war history. Bean more than once declined a knighthood & the A.W.M. holds a George Lambert portrait of 'Carrot Head' as he was sometime known (for more biographical detail see the A.D.B. Vol 7, p226--229. Definitely a museum quality medallic treasure. Toned, virtually UNC. Rare. (P)