The medal was of gold until 1976, and is for the preceding years often referred to as "the Gold Medal of the Linnean Society", not to be confused with the official Linnean Gold Medal which is seldom awarded.
Medaljen var guld indtil 1976 og er i de foregående år derfor ofte omtalt som Gold Medal of Linnean Society, ikke at forveksle med Linnéguldmedaljen, som sjældent tildeles.