Description

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33mm wide octagonal silver medal, the obverse with a bust of Queen Victoria to left, wearing a tiara, the reverse showing a three-masted ship amidst icebergs with a sledging party in the foreground, the words ‘For Arctic Discoveries’ above and ‘1818-1855’ below, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon. Medal has beaded borders on each side, edges plain, with 2 small edge knocks to the base; surmounted by official star and swivel loop attachment and original watered silk ribbon. A very well preserved condition.

The Arctic medal, with its evocative reverse scene, was authorized in 1857 and awarded by the Admiralty, unnamed, to all those who had been engaged in discovery or search expeditions between the years 1818 and 1855. It was awarded retrospectively to all officer’s and men, including civilians, scientists, personnel of the French and US Navies and employees of the Hudson Bay Company. Only 1486 medals have been awarded of this type, being a rare and very popular medal to own amongst collectors.