SCARCE PRE WW1 KINGDOM OF ITALY AFRICA CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL 1887-1896

Description

Offered is an original Kingdom of Italy African Campaign Medal 1887-1896.

32mm wide bronze circular medal with bar for ribbon suspension; the face with a head and shoulders portrait of King Umberto I facing right, crowned and in military uniform; the reverse inscribed ‘CAMPAGNE D’AFRICA’ encircled by a laurel wreath; on original issue ribbon.

The medal was created by Royal Decree 463 on 3 November 1894 and awarded to military who served during the first Italian attempts at colonial expansion in the Horn of Africa from 1887 to 1896, resulting in the establishment of colonies in Italian Somaliland and Eritrea but defeat in attempts to take control of Ethiopia.