Bronze. 38mm. 29.6 grams. The Lower Canada Board of Arts and Manufactures originally put on an exhibition in 1860 to showcase Canadian industry during the Prince of Wales’ visit. The original medal featured this obverse paired with a different reverse specifically referring to the prince’s visit. According to R.W. McLachlan’s Canadian Numismatics (1886):

It was decided that the Provincial Exhibition should be held annually in one of the larger towns or cities of the province. A new reverse die was ordered, and the appropriate inscription "honoris causa" on the reverse of the Great Exhibition Medal of London, 1862, was adopted. Some years ago the dies were ordered to be sent to Montreal, and a number of medals were struck here; but by carelessness they have been damaged, and no medals have been awarded for some years.

The obverse features the arms of the Board with a worker left, hammer in hand, leaning on an anvil, and a robed woman right with a cloth in hand and a vase at her feet. A left-facing bust of Minerva, goddess of industry, is above the coat of arms within a wreath of maple. Below, a scroll reads: MEDITANDO ET VARIAS USUS EXTUNDERET ARTES (“That Thought Might Form the Various Arts”). The engraver, Joseph Shepherd Wyon, has signed his name at left and LONDON at right. The legend around reads: Lr. CANADA BOARD OF ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. CHAMBRE DES ARTS ET MANUFACTURES BAS CANADA. The reverse features a wreath of maple tied by a ribbon. Within is the legend LOWER CANADA PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION and the inscription HONORIS / CAUSA.

This glossy brown example survives in pristine condition. Even the scales on the obverse snake are fully defined.