Indian Mutiny Medal


The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal approved in August 1858, for issue to officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

The medal was initially sanctioned for award to those troops who had been engaged in action against the mutineers. However, in 1868 the award was extended to all those who had borne arms or who had been under fire, including such people as members of the Indian judiciary and the Indian civil service, who were caught up in the fighting. Some 290,000 medals were awarded.
The obverse depicts the diademed head of a young Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, designed by William Wyon.
The reverse shows a helmeted Britannia holding a wreath in her right hand and a union shield on her left arm. She is standing in front of a lion. Above is the word INDIA, with the dates 1857-1858 below. The reverse was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, who also engraved the die of the medal.
The wide ribbon is white with two scarlet stripes, with each stripe of equal width.
The recipient's name and unit is impressed on the rim of the medal in block Roman capitals.

Clasps

Five clasps were authorised, though the maximum awarded to any one man was four. The clasps read downwards from the top of the medal.
The medal was issued without a clasp to those who served, but were not present during these major operations. The majority of these awards were made as a result of the 1868 extension of eligibility.