Australian Historical Medals

Lot 666    SESSION 3 (2.30PM TUESDAY 31ST MARCH)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $770

STUDENTS SOCIETY I.I.A. (Institute of Incorporated Accountants) of N.S.W., prize medal in 9ct gold (7.22g; 27.5x36mm), by A&C Ltd (Angus & Coote), obverse inscribed, 'EHS', reverse inscribed, 'J.G.McLaren Medal/Dec.1927/Intermediate Law/Won by/Edmund H. Swift'; also a Swift family heirloom being a mourning ring in 18ct gold (7.4g), features a wide floral patterned band and around the centre is a black enamelled band with gold Gothic lettering, 'IN MEMORY OF', inside the band is inscribed, 'James Swift, Ob, 27 Mar, 1818 At, 58'; a brass block with an incuse coat-of-arms at the base for stamping a seal, features a shield with chevron between three springing stags and at the crest is a rampant stag; Jubilee Medal 1935 and Coronation Medal 1937, both medals unnamed as issued but attributed to Edmund Harold Swift, and both in official boxes of issue with miniatures. The last two medals and miniatures uncirculated, the rest very fine - extremely fine. (7)

Entitlement to 1935 Jubilee Medal and 1937 Coronation Medal to Edmund Harold Swift, civil servant, confirmed.

Edmund Harold Swift was born at Balmain on 5 April 1893, the son of J.H.Swift of Mirfield, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Sydney High School and Sydney University and was a fellow of the Commonwealth Institute of Accountants. He commenced working with the Public Works Department as a junior clerk in 1910 rising through the ranks. Some of the positions he held included Under Secretary of the Department of Public Works 1934-36, Special Administration Officer of the Health Department 1936-38, Auditor-General 1942-49 and was also on the Board of Control of the United Dental Hospital of Sydney from 1942 and was Chairman of the Public Accountants Registration Board of NSW. Edmund Swift died of a heart attack on 12 November 1949 at only 56 years of age at his residence in Drummoyne, Sydney, NSW. His funeral service was held at St Bede's Church, Drummoyne and then at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.