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British North Borneo Co. Medal: Punitive Expedition (1897): CM.1154-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Issuer: British North Borneo Company
Die-engraver: Spink & Son

Entities

Categories

Description

The state of North Borneo, which is now part of the Malaysian state of Sabah, began independent existence as a United States possession leased from the Sultan of Brunei, and then passed through the hands of various trading companies, US, Austro-Hungarian and British, before the formation of the British North Borneo Co. in 1882. It became a British Protectorate in 1888. Under the company the terms of the lease were considerably expanded, and new settlement organisation and taxation systems emplaced. This, while boosting the country's productivity, also caused resentment among the local population.
Datu Muhammad Salleh (Mat Salleh) became a figurehead of this opposition feeling, and the Company's burning of his village in 1897 failed to quell his increasing power. His destruction of the Company's harbour at Pulau Gaya in 1897 led to a more determined reprisal against his new fort of Ranau in 1898, after which Mat Salleh had to retreat into the hinterland. He was eventually killed in 1900.
The bar to this medal indicates that it was awarded to participants in the expedition against Ranau. Forces in these actions were so small that only fifty-two of these medals were issued, and of these only five in silver, of which this unnamed example is one. Lester Watson purchased it from the London dealer Baldwin in 1933.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt Baldwin 1933

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 38.7 mm
Weight: 55.78 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1898

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: British lion left facing out before Union Jack flagstaff and wooded background; exergue, laurel wreath with Spink & Sons engraved left and London engraved right

  • Text: BRITISH NORTH BORNEO
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Arms of couped shield with galleasse at sea base, lion passant chief, shield flanked by native warriors one with shield and other with machete, above arms holding flagstaff, below motto on scroll over antlers

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1154-2009
Primary reference Number: 141248
Watson Catalogue: 40
Ordering: M-0037
Previous object number: LW.0037
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

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The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "British North Borneo Co. Medal: Punitive Expedition (1897)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141248 Accessed: 2024-10-06 21:33:49

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141248 |title=British North Borneo Co. Medal: Punitive Expedition (1897) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-10-06 21:33:49|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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