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Allied Victory Medal, 1914-18: CM.1473-2009

An image of Allied Victory Medal, 1914-18

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
State: South Africa
Artist: McMillan, William
Ruler: George V (1910-36) (Inferred)

Entities

Categories

Description

When the Great War of 1914-1918 had ended, there was a genuine feeling among the victorious Allies that their military efforts had been instrumental in preserving modern civilization, and this and the united spirit of the Alliance were commemorated in a combined issue of medals to those who had seen active service during the conflict. 13 nations in all issued a variety of this medal; all shared the rainbow ribbon and suspension, and all but the Japanese, who lacked a comparable symbolic figure, used a form of Victory on the obverse and a legend on the reverse.
Most Dominions of the British Crown awarded the British issue of the medal, unnamed as were those, but South Africa struck its own bilingual version, whose examples were engraved to their recipients. This one is inscribed to Driver A. Karsten of the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps, to whom it was presumably awarded in 1919. Lester Watson bought his medal from the London dealers Baldwin at some point before 1928.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.2 mm
Weight: 29.96 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1919 - 1920

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Victory with branch in right hand and left hand held high

  • Text: THE / GREAT WAR / FOR CIVILISATION / ····· / DE GROTE OORLOG / VOOR DE / BESCHAVING / 1914-1919
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Inscription in border

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1473-2009
Primary reference Number: 141567
Watson Catalogue: Q
Ordering: M-0356
Previous object number: LW.0356
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Saturday 22 January 2022 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

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) "Allied Victory Medal, 1914-18" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141567 Accessed: 2024-11-06 18:07:40

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141567 |title=Allied Victory Medal, 1914-18 |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-06 18:07:40|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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