[2][3] While gold, silver, and bronze denoted first, second, and third, acknowledgement in biographies often only reference the "Dufferin Medal".
Gold medals in proficiency categories — where competition was not involved — were rarely awarded.
The Dufferin Medals went a long way towards motivating students, artists, musicians, and athletes, and had the same positive effect on validating efforts of institutions, professors, academicians, and coaches.
One side portrayed the British coat of arms, with the motto, Per Vias Rectas.
The other side showed full heads of the Earl of Dufferin and the Countess at the left.