RARE BRITISH INDIA ORDER KAISAR-I-HIND GVIR MEDAL, 2ND CLASS, 2ND TYPE WW2

An original Kaisar-I-Hind, G.V.I.R., 2nd class medal, 2nd type, of solid silver. 58mm high oval silver medal surmounted by an Imperial crown with loop and original wire ribbon bar; the face with the cipher ?GRI? for King and Emperor George VI within an ornate laurel-decorated buckle border; the reverse with a ribbon centrally inscribed KAISAR-I-HIND (Emperor of India) imposed on exotic flowers within a border inscribed FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN INDIA; on original ribbon with ornate flower-decorated silver top bar, with pin back reverse. A stunning example, practically as struck. The medal was initially awarded in two classes – gold and silver and a third, bronze, class was added during the reign of King George V. This example is of the second type George V issue and may be distinguished from the first by the absence of two roundels bearing flowers above and below the royal cipher. The medal is in fact a decoration and is still extant, though it has not been awarded since Indian independence in 1947. It was always awarded sparingly and is hard to find. A very good example.