Description

The Sultan of Turkey issued this medal to allied military personnel involved in the Crimean war. There are three different issues of this medal for those issued to British, French or Sardinian personnel. The obverse shows the Sultan of Turkey’s cipher with the Mohammendan date for 1271 on all versions. The reverse depicts a cannon with four flags to its rear. The flag to the fore on the second from the left depicts the country to which the medal was intended. The inscription in the exergue reads ‘La Crimee 1855’ for French issue, ‘La Crimea 1855’ for Sardinian issue and ‘Crimea 1855’ for British Issue. The ribbon is attached through a steel ring which is attached to the medal by a smaller silver ring, however many medals are found with privately attached scroll type suspenders. Combatants Allies: Second French Empire United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease 256,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1854–1856) was fought... Motto: Процветание в единстве - Prosperity in unity Anthem: Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Capital Simferopol Largest cities Simferopol, Eupatoria, Kerch, Theodosia, Yalta Official language Ukrainian. ...

Clasps

None authorised for this medal.

Ribbon

The original ribbon issued with this medal measured only .50” wide but was replaced by one of 1.25” when awarded to British personnel. The ribbon itself is watered and of dark crimson with green edges.

Naming

This medal was issued unnamed but examples are found with privately engraved naming of varying styles.

Notes

Most collectors mistakenly believe the reverse with the flags and cannon are the obverse of this medal and indeed many of the recipients at the time wore them that way. The side with the Sultan's cypher or toughra is actually the obverse.

The medal was originally worn via one or two very small steel rings from a half-width ribbon (rather like a miniature medal ribbon) and often using two widths, but they were almost universally altered to take a wider ribbon to conform to standard British types and their suspensions altered acordingly. It is therefore common to encounter the original medals with the steel ring (which is prone to rusting) from which the ribbon was attached replaced by a scroll or other type of suspender akin to British medal types. Such medals are still considered contemporary and the alterations do not alter their value.

Due to the loss by shipwreck of many of these medals intended for British recipients, awards were made with whatever issue came to hand, the most common being of the Sardinian type. The general quality of these medals was poor and many British officers had copies of superior quality made in 925 silver with plain or scroll suspenders. These have clearer detail and are generally thicker and heavier; they are often seen in groups mounted by Messrs. Hunt and Roskill.

Further reading

• The Origins of the Crimean War David M. Goldfrank
• The Crimean War, 1853-1856 Winfried Baumbart
• Historical Dictionary of the Crimean War Guy Arnold (Editor), John Worronoff (Editor)
• Ultimate Spectacle: A Visual History of the Crimean War Ulrich Keller
• Eyewitness in the Crimea : The Crimean War Letters of Lt. Col. George Frederick Dallas George *Frederick Dallas, Michael Hargreave Mawson (Editor)