Darwin Medal of the Royal Society The Darwin Medal was founded in 1890 by the Royal Society, and is awarded biennially for work of distinction in the field in which Darwin himself laboured. It is struck in silver or bronze Obverse: bust of Darwin, left profile, hair and beard long, crown of head bare, in coat and collar. Reverse: a wreath, composed of the leaves and flowers of plants identified with Darwin's researches ( 'Ampelopsis', 'Drosera', 'Primule', 'Nepenthes', &c.), 1890