Date
Instituted: 1857.
Campaign: Polar expeditions 1818-1855.
Description: Octagonal shaped medal bearing the head of Queen Victoria
on the obverse with the inscription 'VICTORIA REGINA' while the
reverse depicts a three masted sailing ship within the polar region
with a sledge party in the foreground. Above the ship are
the words 'FOR ARCTIC DISCOVERIES' while the dates '1818-1855' appear
in the exergue below. The suspender takes the form of a polar star
with a metal ring attached on top to take the ribbon.
Metal: Silver.
Size: 46mm high and 32mm wide.
Clasps: None authorised for this medal.
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Naming: Issued
un-named but many were later privately engraved.
Comments: Instituted in 1857 this medal was awarded to some 1,486
recipients who took part in the various polar expeditions between
1818 and 1856. Recipients included civilians, scientists, French and US
naval personnel as well as 1,106 members of the Royal Navy.
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