Date
Instituted: 1869.
Campaign: Abyssinia War 1867-68.
Description: This is an unusual medal bearing
the small head of Queen Victoria on the obverse within a 9 pointed
star with the letters making up the word ‘ABYSSINIA’ appearing between
the points. The reverse has the embossed name of the recipient
often including his number and regiment or ship within a laurel
wreath. The suspender takes the shape of a ring attached to
a crown which is sweated to the medal.
Metal: Silver.
Size: 33mm.
Clasps: Non authorised for this
medal.
| Ribbon: |
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Naming: Embossed
naming appears on the reverse of this medal in small capital letters,
however some issued to native troops were engraved.
Comments: This medal was costly to
make due to the embossed nature of the naming requiring a die to
be cut for each individual medal’s reverse. Although the medals
were struck at the Royal Mint (with a blank reverse) the naming
was carried out by the firm of G. Austin who used an unrecorded
method of punching mild steel cylinders with the name which was
then used to hammer the reverse of the medal. This resulted
in flattening of the obverse which is evident on most examples encountered
today.
Care should be taken when purchasing this medal as it is prone to
damage to the mount below the crown and repairs are common. |
