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Crimean War Medal: CM.1184-2009

An image of Crimean War Medal

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Wyon, William
Artist: Wyon, Benjamin
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

Rivalry between Britain and Russia over India, and between Russia and France over the protection of Christians under Ottoman rule, led in the 1850s to a focus of diplomatic attention on the ailing Ottoman Empire. British diplomatic successes led to a Russian attempt to annexe the Danubian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia from the Ottomans, as well as the Russian destruction of the Ottoman Black Sea fleet when Turkey went to war in retaliation. Britain and France moved in support of the Ottomans and although the Danubian provinces were returned the allies' conditions for peace far exceeded this. The Russian refusal to meet these conditions led to full-scale international war in late 1854.
The war was mainly composed of allied attempts to reduce Russian fortresses on the Black Sea (and also on the Baltic), of which only the lengthy siege of Sevastopol was successful, but Russian attrition there and elsewhere was so heavy and the Russian ability to force withdrawal on the allies so inadequate that Tsar Nicholas I made peace in 1856.
An early allied success was the defeat at Alma in 1854 of a larger Russian army that had been sent to oppose the initial allied landings. Other less successful engagements between the same armies arose at Inkermann in November 1854, and shortly before at the Battle of Balaklava, in which a Russian attempt to lift the siege of Sevastopol failed but inflicted heavy British casualties, including most famously upon the Light Brigade in their legendary suicide charge.
This medal bears bars for participation in all these battles, and also for action during the long siege of Sevastopol. It was awarded to Private H. McMonagh, of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Rifle Brigade. Lester Watson acquired it at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.1 mm
Weight: 48.26 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1855 - 1856

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Roman warrior being wreathed by flying Victory

  • Text: CRIMEA
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1184-2009
Primary reference Number: 141278
Watson Catalogue: 71
Ordering: M-0067
Previous object number: LW.0067
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 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 (2024) "Crimean War Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141278 Accessed: 2024-04-20 01:01:49

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141278 |title=Crimean War Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-20 01:01:49|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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