This rare pendant began life as a commemorative silver coin struck for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880–1881 — the first official world’s fair held in the Southern Hemisphere. Featuring the grand Royal Exhibition Building on one side and Queen Victoria’s portrait on the other, it represents a moment of extraordinary pride in Australia’s early industrial and cultural history.
The coin was found in this condition, already bearing the small star-shaped opening that now forms part of its story. The mark does not detract from its significance — instead, it offers a glimpse into the unknown journey this piece has taken over more than 140 years. Every surface, patina, and imperfection has been preserved intentionally, honouring its age and authenticity.
Now fitted with a bail, the pendant can once again be worn and appreciated — not as a damaged artefact, but as a living fragment of Melbourne’s past, reborn through care and preservation.
Details
Composition: Sterling silver (original commemorative coin)
Year: 1880
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
Obverse: Queen Victoria (young head)
Reverse: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Maker: Stokes & Son, Melbourne (official medallists for the Exhibition)
Diameter: Approx. 32 mm
Chain: Not included (pendant only)
Finish: Natural aged patina; star-shaped aperture (historic condition, not modified)
Why It Matters
Every so often, history leaves behind something imperfect yet profoundly beautiful. This pendant captures that spirit — a relic of Australia’s first world stage, preserved and reimagined without erasing its past. It stands as both jewellery and artifact, telling a story that is as much about endurance as it is about design.
This rare pendant began life as a commemorative silver coin struck for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880–1881 — the first official world’s fair held in the Southern Hemisphere. Featuring the grand Royal Exhibition Building on one side and Queen Victoria’s portrait on the other, it represents a moment of extraordinary pride in Australia’s early industrial and cultural history.
The coin was found in this condition, already bearing the small star-shaped opening that now forms part of its story. The mark does not detract from its significance — instead, it offers a glimpse into the unknown journey this piece has taken over more than 140 years. Every surface, patina, and imperfection has been preserved intentionally, honouring its age and authenticity.
Now fitted with a bail, the pendant can once again be worn and appreciated — not as a damaged artefact, but as a living fragment of Melbourne’s past, reborn through care and preservation.
Details
Composition: Sterling silver (original commemorative coin)
Year: 1880
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
Obverse: Queen Victoria (young head)
Reverse: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Maker: Stokes & Son, Melbourne (official medallists for the Exhibition)
Diameter: Approx. 32 mm
Chain: Not included (pendant only)
Finish: Natural aged patina; star-shaped aperture (historic condition, not modified)
Why It Matters
Every so often, history leaves behind something imperfect yet profoundly beautiful. This pendant captures that spirit — a relic of Australia’s first world stage, preserved and reimagined without erasing its past. It stands as both jewellery and artifact, telling a story that is as much about endurance as it is about design.
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