56mm. Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891) was a member of the prominent Wyon dynasty of engravers. He is famous in Canada for having cut many of the dies for our own Victorian coinage, including the 1858 Province of Canada issue.

The Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce was established in 1754 by William Shipley. According to the RSA,

“Shipley’s belief that the creativity of ideas could enrich social progress was reflected in the diversity of awards offered by the Premium Award Scheme. For the first 100 years the Society encouraged innovation and excellence through this scheme in six areas - Agriculture, Manufacture, Chemistry, Mechanics, Polite Arts, Colonies and Trade.

This bronze medal is engraved on the edge: JETHRO BITHELL. SOCIETY OF ARTS EXAMINATIONS, 1896. SHORTHAND. Bithell was born in Wigan, England and studied German and the University of Manchester, where he graduated in 1900 with first-class honours in Modern Languages. He spent his career teaching German at Birkbeck College, University of London before retiring in 1938. Jethro Bithell died in 1962.

The fields are glossy and unabraded on this well-preserved chocolate-brown representative. Exceptionally struck and attractive. There is a single speck of aqua residue near the rim above RE in PRESIDENT. Housed in its original, blue velvet-lined case of issue.