Numismatic Auction #18

GREAT BRITAIN: Victoria, 1837-1901, AR medal, 1854, Crimean War Medal, by W. Wyon, struck at the Royal mint, young portrait of Queen left / Victory flying right, crowning soldier standing facing, holding shield, with original ribbon and Sebastopol clasp, miniature medal, EF. The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56 against Russia. The medal is notable for its extremely ornate clasps, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity, a style never again used on a British medal. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender, again unique to the Crimea Medal.