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Tibet Medal: CM.1447-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Gillick, Ernest George
Artist: Saulles, George W. de
Ruler: Edward VII (1901-10)
Ruler: Edwardvs VII Kaisar-i-Hind (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tibet, on the frontier between the British possessions in India and the sphere of interest of expanding Russia, evoked the same kind of international political paranoia among British strategists as did the Indian North-West Frontier, and after a trade mission in 1903 had met with a hostile reception there a British expedition was sent that forced its way through to Lhasa, where new and more favourable trading arrangements were decided on in collaboration with the Chinese. Although the Dalai Lama of the time had fled to Mongolia at the British approach, the secular officials who agreed on the Treaty were able to confine the British to the city of Gyantse until 1944.
Some of the most vicious fighting on the British expedition was met with in and around Gyantse, and the bar that this medal bears acknowleges participation in that fighting, by Gunner T. McDonagh of the 7th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, to whom it was awarded. Lester Watson acquired his medal 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: 36.5 mm
Weight: 44.89 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1905

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Edward facing left

  • Text: EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Fortress of Potala Lhassa atop mountain ridge

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1447-2009
Primary reference Number: 141541
Watson Catalogue: 368
Ordering: M-0330
Previous object number: LW.0330
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) "Tibet Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141541 Accessed: 2024-11-08 12:29:22

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141541 |title=Tibet Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-08 12:29:22|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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