These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.
Download this imageCreative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.
Mint:
Calcutta
Ruler:
Shuja al-Mulk (1803-9, 1839-42)
Issuer:
East India Company
Ruler:
Victoria (1837-1901)
Mint:
London
The First Anglo-Afghan War was brought about, against a background of British desire to control this troublesome area on the Indian North-West Frontier, by the campaign of the exiled Shah Shujah al-Mulk, to oust his brother Mahmud from the Afghan throne (something which he had done in 1803 in order to succeed in the first place).
After an unsuccessful attempt in 1833 backed by the ruler of the Punjab, Shujah managed to add British support for a campaign of 1839 and was thereby restored, although he was assassinated almost as soon as the British left the country, provoking a return to conflict for which other medals were awarded.
The most difficult part of the campaign was the capture of the fortress in the mountain pass of Ghazni, and for participation in this battle Shah Shujah had a medal stuck at Calcutta. He was dead before it could be issued, but Queen Victoria and the East India Company allowed it to be awarded through the usual channels anyway.
This example was awarded to Sergeant S. Fenton of the 13th Regiment. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.
History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt before 1928
Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009
Diameter: 37.1 mm
Weight: 31.07 g
Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester
Production date: AD 1842
Inscription present: Fortress
Inscription present: Recipient's name above mural crown, with laurel branches around
Accession number: CM.1235-2009
Primary reference Number: 141329
Watson Catalogue: 133
Ordering: M-0118
Previous object number: LW.0118
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Coins and Medals
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Ghuznee Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141329 Accessed: 2024-12-22 20:30:38
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141329
|title=Ghuznee Medal
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 20:30:38|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-141329
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm15/LW_0118_281_29.jpg"
alt="Ghuznee Medal"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Ghuznee Medal</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...
