Exhibition medals

No. 62 of the Correio da Madeira (‘Madeira Courier’) reports that 17 silver medals were awarded to those who presented the most commendable products at the Madeiran Industry exhibition held from 1 to 4 April 1850. In no. 102 of the Funchalense we read that on 25 May 1861 the Palácio de São Lourenço (St Lawrence Palace) was the scene of the prize-giving for the exhibitors who had earned them at the exhibition held in the same palace from 20 to 23 April; 12 first-class prizes, 18 second-class prizes and 20 honourable mentions were awarded. We have not seen any medal from the 1850 exhibition, but we have seen a second-class one from the 1861 exhibition, which reads on one side: ‘1ª. Exposição da Sociedade Agricola do Funchal–1861’, and on the other ‘Res non verba–Premio de 2ª. classe.’ This medal, which is silver and 40 millimetres in diameter, has various decorations in relief and was designed and made by the late Vicente Gomes da Silva (see that entry). Medal to reward the services of John March: see March.