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New Zealand Medal (1845-1847 and 1860-1866): CM.1405-2009

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An image of New Zealand Medal (1845-1847 and 1860-1866)
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Die-engraver: Austin, G.
Artist: Wyon, Joseph Shepherd
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria D: G: Britt: Reg: F: D: (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The New Zealand Medal was instituted in 1869 to recognise service in the New Zealand Wars of 1845-46, 1847 and 1860-66, though not for any of the other conflicts in that or a wider period in the islands. The phrase New Zealand Wars covers a variety of affrays, whose common factors were relatively few beyond that all, at some level, involved government forces suppressing risings by the indigenous Maori peoples. The background to the conflicts was misunderstandings and lapses, more or less wilful from case to case, in the implementation of the Treaty of Waitangi by which in 1840 the newly-instituted New Zealand government had protected the Maori tribes from loss of their lands. Not all the conflicts for which the New Zealand Medal was awarded were of this kind, however, some rather being wars between Maori tribes in which one side had managed to engage the government.
There were twenty-eight different sorts of New Zealand Medal awarded, of which twenty-seven bore the dates of different periods of service, some

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36 mm
Weight: 37.55 g

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1869

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left with veil

  • Text: VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: D: F:
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Central inscription "1864 to 1866" within laurel wreath

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1405-2009
Primary reference Number: 141499
Watson Catalogue: 314
Ordering: M-0288
Previous object number: LW.0288

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

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The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "New Zealand Medal (1845-1847 and 1860-1866)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141499 Accessed: 2025-12-05 15:45:27

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141499 |title=New Zealand Medal (1845-1847 and 1860-1866) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 15:45:27|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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