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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 288

Empress of India 1877, gold issue, 140g, one or two knocks as worn, sometime re-affixed suspension, very fine and a great rarity

Tests as 98% gold under XRF gun.

The gold issues of the medal were presented to a combination of Indian Princes and high-ranking British officials within the Indian Government and Civil Service.

The Durbar took place at Delhi on 1 January 1877 and was attended by the Viceroy of India, Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton, by the royalty of India in the form of Maharajas, Rajahs, Nawabs etc., leading administrators, civil servants and cultural figures, supported by the large-scale and colourful presence of Indian regiments in full dress and British regiments drawn from those on garrison duty around the country. The assembly, with its pomp and circumstance, marked the grand ceremonial transfer of the control of British India from the East India Company to the British Crown.

Proclaiming Victoria Empress of India, the Viceroy resplendent in the robes of the Grand Master of the Order of the Star of India, received each of the 63 ruling princes of India in turn, and:

... placed round the prince's neck a crimson ribbon, to which was attached a very handsome gold medal with the Queen's head engraved on it, adding: 'I decorate you, by command of Her Majesty. May this medal be long worn by yourself, and long kept as an heirloom in your family in remembrance of the auspicious date it bears'.

The exact number of both gold and silver medals awarded is not confirmed but the gold medals are considered to be less than 100.

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Estimate
£13,000 to £15,000

Starting price
£13000