Summary
Ashantee Medal 1873-4 medal with mount, ribbon and bar COOMASSIE awarded to Pte. J. Millar, service number 1794, 42nd. HIGHDS.
On 2 April 1872 the British took control of the port of Elimina over from the Dutch but stopped making payments to King Kofi Karikara for the right to use it. As a result in January 1873 an Ashanti army crossed the river Pra and attacked the pro-British tribes of the British Gold Coast. The British forces in the area were very small and it took until October before sufficient men were available to move towards the capital, Coomassie. The main battle in the war occurred on 4 February 1874 at Ardahsa, the bar COOMASSIE was awarded to those involved in that battle and the subsequent occupation of the capital. The medal was sanctioned in June 1874.
Obverse Description
Diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left, around, 'VICTORIA REGINA' and on the neck truncation the artist's name, 'L.C. WYON'.
Reverse Description
Scene of fighting in a forest between the Ashanti army and the advancing British forces. Design by Sir Edward Poynter.
Edge Description
'1794 PTE. J. MILLAR 42ND. HIGHDS.'.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1874 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Artist
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Artist
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Awarded To
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Inscriptions
Obverse; 'VICTORIA REGINA / L.C. WYON' (artist's name). Bar; 'COOMASSIE'. Edge; '1794 PTE. J. MILLAR 42ND. HIGHDS.'.
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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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Overall Dimensions
55 mm (Height), 36 mm (Outside Diameter)
Height to top of bar.
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Shape
Round with mount, bar and ribbon
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References
[Book] Joslin, E C., et al. 1988. British Battles and Medals., 149 - 150 Pages
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Keywords
