Victoria, 1837-1901. Gold Medal 1888, 46.42 g. Centennial International Exhibition, Award Medal. By Stokes & Martin. Bust, crowned and draped. CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MELBOURNE. Rv. In wreath Southern Cross with inscription. ARTIBUS DIGNIS HONOR INSIGNIS . MDCCCLXXXVIII. Edge engraving: GANZ AND CO. LTD. 38.4 mm. Eimer -. BHM -. Carlisle p.54, 1888/8. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Prüfspur am Rand / Test mark on edge.

From the auction Giessener Münzhandlung 99, Munich, October 1999, lot 5423.

The Melbourne Centennial Exhibition in 1888 was organised to celebrate a century of European settlement in Australia. The Exhibition Building, constructed in 1880 for the Melbourne International Exhibition, was extended and reused. The Centennial Exhibition focused on Australia itself, and emphasised music and painting that attracted many visitors. However, the Exhibition was not recognised by the Bureau of International Expositions as a "world's fair".

It is believed that the edge inscription refers to Ganz Works (formerly Ganz and Partner Iron Mill and Machine Factory) that operated between 1845 and 1949 in Budapest, Hungary. It was named after Ábrahám Ganz, the founder and manager of the company.