Summary
Specimen Abyssinian War medal 1867-1868 - without mount and ribbon. This specimen medal was acquired by the Melbourne Branch of the Royal Mint to exhibit at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition; it was also shown at the 1888 exhibition.
King Theodore of Abyssinia took to imprisoning missionaries, British subjects and even workmen he had sent for from England as the arrived. From 1867 a series of ultimatums and declarations of war were ignored until Lord Robert Napier invaded and defeated the fortress at Magdala. The King committed suicide and the prisoners were released. Two Victoria Crosses were won in the capture of Magdala - one, that won by Drummer Michael Magner, is in the collections of Museum Victoria.
Physical Description
A silver specimen medal 32 mm without mount and ribbon.
Obverse Description
A diademed bust of Queen Victoria facing left with veil, surrounded by a nine-pointed star with a letter of the word ABYSSINIA between each point; the artists names, J.S. & A.B. WYON below bust.
Reverse Description
A laurel wreath arround a circular beaded border, the centre, where the name of the person winning the medal would have been struck, in empty.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 11 Jan 1978
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Date Issued
1869 AD
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Place & Date of Event
Abyssinia (Ethiopia), 1867-1868
Abyssinia Campaign was in modern day Ethiopia. -
Issued By
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Artist
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Inscriptions
ABYSSINIA J.S. & A.B. WYON
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Material
Silver
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
32 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Shape
Round
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References
[Book] Joslin, E C., et al. 1988. British Battles and Medals., 145-6 Pages
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Keywords
Abyssinian War, 1868, Wars & Conflicts, Great Exhibitions, Exhibitions: Melbourne International Centennial, 1888-1889, Exhibitions: Melbourne International, 1880-1881