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Polar Medal: CM.1142-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: George V (1910-36)
State: United Kingdom
Ruler: GEORGIUS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND IMP: (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

British medals for polar exploration were first issued in 1857, though their issue was not confined to British explorers, and was also made to civilians. This design was first issued in 1904.
The bar for 1910-1913 on this medal indicates that the recipient, whose name is not known, was one of the landing party in the fatal expedition of Captain Scott to the South Pole. Only four such medals were issued in bronze. Furthermore, the second bar was awarded to members of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition under Sir Ernest Shackleton. Sources suggest that only two of the men on that voyage held a bronze medal for a previous expedition, but which of them this medal belonged to, if it has not been tampered with or as has been suggested is only a proof issue, is unknown.
Lester Watson purchased the medal from the London dealer Baldwin in 1927.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt Baldwin 1927

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 33.5 mm
Weight: 33.45 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1913 - 1916

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of George facing left

  • Text: GEORGIUS V BRITT. OMN: REX ET IND. IMP.
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Explorers arrayed in foreground with icebound ship behind

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1142-2009
Primary reference Number: 141236
Watson Catalogue: 27
Ordering: M-0025
Previous object number: LW.0025
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) "Polar Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141236 Accessed: 2024-11-22 09:46:30

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141236 |title=Polar Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 09:46:30|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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