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Capture of Ceylon Medal: CM.1164-2009

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An image of Capture of Ceylon Medal
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: Calcutta
Issuer: East India Company
Ruler: George III (1760-1820) (Struck in the rule of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The island of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, was first taken over from its inhabitants by the Portuguese in 1505; the Dutch replaced them during the seventeenth century. In a campaign from 1795 to 1796 the British East India Company ousted Dutch rule and took the island over.
This medal was issued by the Company to a force of 120 Indian gunners from the Bengal Artillery who served in the campaign. It is unnamed, and the recipient's identity unknown. Lester Watson bought it from the dealer Gifford in 1927.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt Gifford 1927

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 50.2 mm
Weight: 48.32 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1796

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Persian inscription

  • Text: [This Medal was given by way of acknowledgement of services in Ceylon in the year of the Hijra, 1209-1210]
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Inscription

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1164-2009
Primary reference Number: 141258
Watson Catalogue: 50
Ordering: M-0047
Previous object number: LW.0047

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Capture of Ceylon Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141258 Accessed: 2025-12-05 11:28:56

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141258 |title=Capture of Ceylon Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 11:28:56|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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