Description
Tasmania, ‘Cessation of Transportation to Tasmania’ Commemorative Medallion (58mm) in White Metal, dated 1853, struck at the Royal Mint, London. Obverse: Laureate Head of Queen Victoria facing left, her hair single filleted and collected in an updo knot, legend around, “QUEEN VICTORIA / MDCCCLIII”. Reverse: Coat of Arms at centre, legend above, “CESSATION OF TRANSPORTATION 1853”, “TASMANIAN FOUNDED 1803” in exergue. Carlisle-1853/2. An imposing medallion of historical significance. Minor edge bump to 4h reverse. Good Very Fine or better.
This medal was struck to commemorate the end of transportation of convicts to Tasmania in 1853. It also marked fifty years since European settlement in Tasmania. News of the British decision to send no more convicts first reached Tasmania via Melbourne. It came from London on the steamer Harbinger and transferred to Launceston on the Yarra Yarra. At celebrations in Tasmania, children were given a piece of Demonstration Cake and a ticket entitling them to a medal. Nine thousand white metal medals were struck and an additional 100 were produced in bronze for people who had rendered services to the anti-transportation cause. 4,000 of the white metal medals were distributed in Hobart, 3,000 in Launceston, and the remainder to country districts. The medal was initially enclosed in a maroon morocco case. Transportation continued in Western Australia until 1868. When it finally ceased throughout Australia, around 162,000 convicts had been transported.