Copper. 32.3mm. 18.2g. Plain edge. Unsigned. Some have suggested this medal to be the work J.S. and A.B. Wyon, but the wreath appears a bit crude. Victoria University was founded in Cobourg, Ontario in 1836 by the Methodist Church. According to the University’s website, it was established “by royal charter from King William IV” and “federated with the University of Toronto in 1890. It comprises Victoria College, an arts and science college of the University of Toronto, and Emmanuel College, a theological college associated with the United Church of Canada.”

The rarity of this medal is under-appreciated, perhaps because it turns up so infrequently. A copper example from a “broken die” was offered as lot 885 in S.H. and Henry Chapman’s February 1896 sale, where it was described as “Very Rare.” The mention of the broken die may explain why the envelope included here states that the dies were destroyed after only 75 pieces were struck (we cannot corroborate that statement). Another sold as part of lot 544 in the 1920 W.H. Hunter sale. The Saul Hendler Collection included one example offered as part of lot 1718 in Jeffrey Hoare Auctions’ Sale 53 (6/1996). Tellingly, this medal was omitted from R.W. McLachlan’s Canadian Numismatics (1886) and from P.N. Breton’s 1912 reference. It was missing from Jeffrey Hoare’s Sale 6 (2/1988). LeRoux provided a rating of R.6.

This unworn example maintains considerable copper-red colour around the devices, while the exposed areas have mellowed to a natural golden-brown hue with violet accents. A single pinscratch in the lower right portion of the central reverse field merits mention.

Ex: Michael Joffre Collection of Canadian Historical Medals.