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Baly Prize Medal: CM.94-2005

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An image of Baly Prize Medal
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Artist: Wyon, Joseph Shepherd
Issuer: Royal College of Physicians
Die-engraver: Wyon, Alfred Benjamin

Entities

Categories

Description

William Baly was a physician of the Victorian period who was noted for his work on hygiene in prisons. After Baly's death in a railway accident in 1861 Frederick Dyster established a fund at the Royal College of Physicians to award a gold medal in Baly's memory. The award is still made, biannually, to a person that the College Council and President deem to have especially distinguished themselves in the study of physiology. Although the awarded medal is in gold, this piece is in lead, and is a specimen from the Wyons' workshop that remained there to be passed on to his descendants, from whom it has come to the Museum.

Notes

History note: From the estate of the late Mrs Venetia M. Watson, daughter of the artist's descendant Allan Gairdner Wyon

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2005-01-31) by Watson, Philip Charles

Dating

Production date: AD 1866

Note

Lead specimen

Components of the work

Object composed of lead Diameter 56 mm Die Axis 0 degrees Weight 112.62 g

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Dr William Baly quarter left with inscription around

  • Text: IN HONOREM GULIELMI BALY M. D. OBt. 1861
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Frontage of the Royal College of Physicians with inscription around and second in exergue along with artists' signature and signature "SIR R SMIRKE R.A. ARCHT"

  • Text: OB PHYSIOLOGIAM FELICITER EXCULTAM // COLL. REG. MED. / LOND.
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.94-2005
Primary reference Number: 156608
Brown: 2707

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Baly Prize Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156608 Accessed: 2025-11-10 23:45:28

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156608 |title=Baly Prize Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-11-10 23:45:28|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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