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East and Central Africa Medal: CM.1202-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Artist: Saulles, George W. de
Ruler: Victoria regina et imperatrix (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

British rule in East Africa was partly achieved via the British East Africa Company, which acquired possessions in Uganda that the Government took over in 1895, and partly through an agreement with Germany in 1890 which had assigned a German protectorate in what is now Kenya to the Company. Subsequent British attempts to provide a modern transport and revenue infrastructure, at the expense of traditional local custom (or indeed just at the expense of locals) resulted in varying degrees of unrest, and for campaigns against such difficulties Queen Victoria approved this medal in 1899.
The bar 1898 refers to a campaign during that year against Somali rebels which was carried out in the Ogaden region, which was finally annexed to Ethiopia in 1948 and has been disputed between that country and what is now Somalia ever since. In 1898 however the area was mostly part of British Somaliland, the rest having been ceded to Ethiopia in 1897.
This medal was awarded to Private Mir Arab of the 27th Bombay Light Infantry, part of the Indian Contingent in Africa. Lester Watson purchased the medal from the London dealers Spink at some point before 1928.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 35.9 mm
Weight: 40.09 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1899

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Queen Victoria facing left holding sceptre

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Britannia left with trident standing right before lion, gesturing to sky

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1202-2009
Primary reference Number: 141296
Watson Catalogue: 95
Ordering: M-0085
Previous object number: LW.0085
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) "East and Central Africa Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141296 Accessed: 2024-12-23 18:15:44

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141296 |title=East and Central Africa Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 18:15:44|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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