Baltic Medal

Instituted:
1856

Qualification:
Granted to officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for operations in the Baltic against Russia at the same time as the Crimean War. One hundred and six medals were also issued to men serving with the Royal Sappers and Miners (British Battles and Medals lists these men by name).

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria, the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts Britannia seated, holding a trident. Behind her are the fortresses of Bomarsund and Sveaborg. The word BALTIC is above, with the dates 1854-1855 in the exergue. The obverse of the medal had been designed by William Wyon RA (1795-1851) and the reverse by his son Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891).

Ribbon:
33mm wide; yellow with blue edges.

Suspension:
An ornamental swivelling suspender.

Naming:
Medals were issued unnamed except those to the Royal Sappers and Miners. These medals were impressed in block capitals.

Clasps:
None

Image courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb.