Ronan Fitzpatrick of the Numismatic Society of Ireland writes:

A lack of gold pieces in the Irish coin series means that collectors who wish to include gold in their Irish collections have to rely on medals. Here too, their efforts can be frustrated since gold pieces are not often offered for sale. Irish gold medals have been struck for agriculture, religion, politics, the services, sport, and significantly for academic achievement and contribution. In his account of Irish medals Dr. A. E. J. Went explains that Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are the leaders of Irish Universities when it comes to the number of medals it has awarded (Went, 1978). Numbered amongst the College's extensive list of prizes and other awards are details of their medals which include accounts of gold medals (Calendar, 2005-06). This paper presents an account of the gold medals awarded to one student at the College. It also provides a brief account of the later career of the recipient.

Ernest Henry Alton was born at Marlinstown, near Mullingar in Ireland on 21 September 1873. He was admitted as a classics student to Trinity College Dublin in 1894, graduated B.A. 1896, M.A. 1899 and Litt.D. in 1928 (Clarke, 2005). Ernest Henry Alton was awarded four gold medals by the University for his academic achievements. The awards were the Vice-Chancellor medal for Latin, the Bishop Berkeley medal for Greek, the Wray medal for Logics and Ethics, and the Vice-Chancellor medal for Classics in Greek or Latin prose (the medal reads Humanities). The first two of these medals are competed for by students in the Senior Freshman or the Junior Sophister years. The third and fourth medals are prizemen awards for achievement in the degree examinations.

Ernest Henry Alton became a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 1905. He was Captain of the University Officer Training Corp (OTC) and during the Easter Rising of 1916 he was in command of the Trinity Garrison. The Garrison secured the College during Easter Week 1916 and by their actions the OTC gained the unique distinction of being the only Corp to actually defend its University (Willoughby, 1989). Ernest Henry Alton was elected as representative of the University to the second Dáil Éireann in 1921 and was re-elected on six further occasions, serving continuously from 1921 until 1937. He also served in Seanad Éireann from 1938 to 1943. From 1927 to 1942 he was Professor of Latin and was Vice-Provost of the University from 1941 to 1942. Professor Alton was admitted as Provost of Trinity College Dublin on 13 May 1942. He died at Provost's House in the College on 18 February 1952 in his 79th year.

In October 2004 the four gold medals of Ernestus H. Alton were offered for sale on the Internet by Fort Lauderdale Rare Coins (FLRC) of Florida, USA. The group, which had remained together for over 100 years, unfortunately was divided with the medals being purchased by three different collectors. Fortunately, the collectors are known to each other.

The descriptions of the medals are based on those of FLRC as originally described at their website and on descriptions of similar medals in Spink's Numismatic Circular. Specific details of each medal have been provided by the medal owners and their clarification of those details is acknowledged by these lines. Photographs are courtesy of Fort Lauderdale Rare Coins, Florida, USA. Assistance and advice provided by the Library staff and Patrick Wyse Jackson at Trinity College are also acknowledged.

For more information on the Numismatic Society of Ireland, see:
https://www.numismaticsocietyofireland.com/

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JULY 9, 2023 : Trinity College Dublin Gold Medal(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n28a23.html)