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Coorg Medal: CM.1182-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: Calcutta
Issuer: East India Company
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901) (Struck in the rule of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The princely state of Kodagu, or Coorg, now part of modern Karnataka in India, became an ally of the British in India due to the threat posed by Tipu Sultan, King of Mysore, who had occupied the country three times and been repelled twice. In 1799 Kodagu was afforded the protection of the British East India Co., but in 1820 the young Vira Raja succeeded, and his liquidation of his family rivals and other actions which could be considered treasonable led to a British intervention in force in 1834, after which the state was formally annexed by the Company.
One of the effects of the Company take-over was that taxes were now paid in money rather than in kind, and this seems to have been the cause behind a rising by the Gauda people in Kanara, a province of Kodagu. The rising met with little success due to the loyalty of the Kodavas to British rule. This loyalty was immediately rewarded by the East India Company with this issue of this medal, of which about 250 were struck, to the loyal people of the Kanara area.
The medals were issued unnamed, and so the recipient's identity is unknown. Lester Watson purchased the medal at some point before 1928.

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: 50.3 mm
Weight: 50.41 g

Place(s) associated

  • Calcutta

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1837

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Coorg warrior standing left with knife and musket

  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: War trophies

  • Text: FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT AND LOYALTY TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT / COORG APRIL 1837
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1182-2009
Primary reference Number: 141276
Watson Catalogue: 68
Ordering: M-0065
Previous object number: LW.0065
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) "Coorg Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141276 Accessed: 2024-03-29 00:28:38

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141276 |title=Coorg Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-29 00:28:38|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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