SCARCE PAPUA NEW GUINEA 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENC MEDAL 1985

37mm wide circular cupro nickel medal with scroll and laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with the head of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the St. Edward crown and facing right, circumscribed ‘PAPUA NEW GUINEA QUEEN ELIZABETH II’, signed ‘DW’; the reverse with a bird of paradise perched on a traditional two-headed drum and a spear, circumscribed ‘INDEPENDENCE’ above and dated ‘1975~1985’ below; on original unmounted ribbon.

The medal was instituted in 1985 to mark the tenth anniversary of independence and awarded to prominent civilians and members of the defence and emergency forces who had made a significant contribution to the country since independence. Recipients included Australians and New Zealanders. The medal was issued in small numbers and is rare.