Date
Instituted: 1839.
Campaign: Ghuznee 1839.
Description: The
obverse depicts the fortress of Ghunzee with the word ‘GHUNZEE’
below while the reverse has a mural crown surrounded by a laurel
wreath and the date ’23 JULY 1839’. The suspender is straight
with a ring passing through a smaller loop sweated to the top of
the medal.
Metal: Silver.
Size: 37mm.
Clasps: None authorised for this medal.
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Naming: Issued
un-named but many were later privately engraved or impressed in varying styles on the reverse or rim.
Comments: This is the second medal awarded to all ranks by Britain for a particular
campaign and was struck on
orders of the Shah of Afghanistan in 1839 to show his appreciation
to the British forces who restored him to his throne. Two
separate dies exist for this medal with one having a wider border
around the edge than the other. The second also has a narrower and taller
fortress.
Naming for this medal appears either on the rim or on the reverse above the mural crown. Many naming styles exist and it is generally thought that regiments had a batch of medals named by a silversmith at one time. However collectors tend to prefer medals named on the reverse rather than the rim and so command slightly higher prices.
Although no clasps were authorised for this medal the collector may encounter unofficial clasps on some examples. These were later additions obtained by the recipient.
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