Award - Cambridge University Browne Medal; 26mm

Engraved by Pingo. Struck by Wyon from circa 1850 and later by Pinches.

Awarded annually since 1775 for greek and latin epigrams. (Pinches)

The William Browne Prize for Classical Odes and Epigrams was established in the will of Sir William Browne, President of the Royal College of Physicians, upon his death in 1774. Medals of five-guinea weight were to be distributed to Cambridge undergraduates, with the first awarded in 1775.

In 1857 the university decided that the prizes for Greek and Latin epigrams should be split and two smaller medals awarded. This was given Royal Approval in April 1858. Only 10 of these smaller medals were ever awarded (to nine recipients) as winners of both the Greek and Latin medals continued to receive the large medal. Of these 10 small medal awards Pagan knew of only one survivor, oddly also for 1866, the award for a Greek epigram to a Thomas Moss. Awards of the smaller medal ceased in 1866. It is worth noting that the medal is indeed about half the weight of the earlier (and later) large-sized medal.