1893 Governor General of Canada Academic Silver Medal

Issued in 1893 during the tenure of Lord Aberdeen, Governor General of Canada, this academic silver medal represents a formal instrument of recognition within Canada’s late-Victorian educational and institutional system. Struck in solid silver (approximately 2 troy ounces) and engraved by Alfred Jones, the medal reflects the high level of craftsmanship typical of official Commonwealth medallic art of the period.

The obverse features conjoined portrait busts of the Governor General and the Countess of Aberdeen, encircled by the bilingual inscription “Governor General of Canada / Comtesse d’Aberdeen” with the date 1893. The reverse presents a finely rendered Canadian shield framed by maple leaves, surmounted by a crown and flanked by allegorical female figures, accompanied by Latin mottoes including “Fortuna non mutat genus” and “Sequitur.” Such medals were produced in limited numbers for academic distinction and were never intended for circulation.

This example is preserved with natural period toning, showing only light handling consistent with age, and is housed in its original fitted leather presentation case, a key factor in its survival and collectability. While modest in scale, the medal carries institutional weight as a tangible artifact of Canada’s administrative, educational, and Commonwealth history at the close of the nineteenth century.

Details

• Date: 1893
• Issuer: Office of the Governor General of Canada
• Governor General: Lord Aberdeen
• Engraver: Alfred Jones
• Material: Solid silver
• Weight: Approximately 2 troy ounces
• Condition: Very good, with original toning
• Case: Original fitted leather presentation case included
• Type: Academic / institutional medal (non-circulating)