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Jellalabad Medal (Flying Victory): CM.1289-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Issuer: East India Company
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria vindex (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The First Afghan War of 1839 had culminated in the British restoration of the Shah Shujah al-Mulk, a situation which caused his dissatisfied people to rise in revolt in 1841. The murder of the British envoy provoked an initial evacuation of the British garrison, most of which was massacred on its march back to India. The British forces in Afghanistan were for a short while confined to those in the fort of Khelat-al-Ghilzai and the garrison of Jalalabad, which withstood siege until it could be relieved by the British a short while later in the campaign that restored British control in the area.
After the relief of Jalalabad the Governor-General of India determined on the issue of a silver medal for its defenders, but was dissatisfied with the result. When a shortfall was discovered the opportunity was taken to redesign the medal for the second issue. Those soldiers awarded the first were offered a free exchange of it for the second issue but very few chose to do so.
One of those who did exchange the medal was Captain R. Dowson of the 5th Native Infantry. Lester Watson purchased his 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: 35.8 mm
Weight: 33.77 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1842

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA VINDEX
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Victory with Union Jack standard in left hand and laurel wreath in right, flying over city

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1289-2009
Primary reference Number: 141383
Watson Catalogue: 192
Ordering: M-0172
Previous object number: LW.0172
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) "Jellalabad Medal (Flying Victory)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141383 Accessed: 2024-11-21 19:04:02

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141383 |title=Jellalabad Medal (Flying Victory) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-21 19:04:02|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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