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Abyssinian War Medal: CM.1118-2009

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An image of Abyssinian War Medal
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Jones, Owen
Die-engraver: Wyon, Joseph Shepherd
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)

Entities

Categories

Description

The Abyssinian War Medal was awarded to those involved in a 1867-1868 expedition to Abyssinia to secure the release of British labourers sent to the country at the request of King Theodore, but imprisoned on their arrival. Though 43,000 men were involved in the campaign (only 14,683 being soldiers) and vastly outnumbered, total casualties were only 2 killed and 27 wounded, and the King committed suicide when his city of Magdala fell to the British.
This medal was awarded to Able Bodied Seaman T. Simpkin, whose vessel, HMS Spiteful, despite only being a paddle-steamer single-handedly quelled piracy in the Arabian Gulf during the campaign, in a month's cruise in 1868 in which she captured 6 vessels and rescued 200 slaves. Simpkin was presumably part of this effort, and Lester Watson purchased the medal awarded for it at some point before 1928.
The Museum is glad to acknowledge the help of Mr G. M. Stein with the history of this medal.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 32.5 mm
Weight: 31.15 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 nine quintuple-leafed florets in triangles surrounding; crown at stem

  • Text: A B Y S S I N I A
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Inscription with border and laurel wreath around; crown at stem

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1118-2009
Primary reference Number: 141212
Watson Catalogue: 1
Ordering: M-0001
Previous object number: LW.0001

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

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Abyssinian War Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141212 Accessed: 2025-12-06 06:04:57

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141212 |title=Abyssinian War Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 06:04:57|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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