Royal Niger Company Medal 1885-1899. Bronze issue with clasp 'Nigeria' (207)

The medal officially numbered 207 - the low number indicative of service in one of the early if not earliest qualifying punitive expedition - as issued to African recipients

The Bronze medal and clasp was only issued to African personnel still serving in 1899, in which year the Royal Niger Company had it's royal charter revoke. From 1899, the territories formerly controlled by the Royal Niger Company, were subsequently restyled 'Nigeria', with control ultimately being transferred to the Imperial Government. The medal and clasp represented numerous qualifying punitive expeditions carried out in the period 1885-1899. The main criteria for award of the medal and clasp, was that the recipient had to have served in a designated qualifying expedition that had incurred casualties. The medal was not awarded to the next of kin of deceased African personnel, or to African personnel who had taken their discharge prior to 1899. Only about 1000 x bronze medals were awarded, these being numbered - non sequentially - in the range '1-2361'

The medal was struck by medallists Spink & Son Ltd, of London. England

The medal retaining it's original length of silk riband, this latter with minor soiling

A very scarce and desirable example in uncommonly good condition for a bronze medal issue to an African recipient from the Victorian era

Condition: VF

Code: 22602