Tonkin Expedition Commemorative Medal - Navy Issue

Tonkin Expedition Commemorative Medal - Navy Issue - obverseTonkin Expedition Commemorative Medal - Navy Issue - reverse

© Pedro Branco (CC BY)

Features

Location France
Period Third Republic (1870-1940)
Type Award medals › Military award
Year 1885
Composition Silver
Weight 14 g
Diameter 30 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape Round (irregular)
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
301067

Commemorative issue

Tonkin Expedition 1883 - 1885

Obverse

As stipulated in the law of 6 September 1885, the obverse of the medal features an effigy of the Republic and the words République française, enclosed within a laurel wreath. In accordance with convention, the Republic is represented as a helmeted young woman with the word patrie (motherland) inscribed on the visor of her helmet.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
PATRIE

Reverse

Script: Latin

Lettering:
TONKIN CHINE ANNAN
CAU-GIAÏ
SONTAY
BAC-NINH
FOU-TCHÉOU
FORMOSE
TUYEN-QUAN
PESCADORES
1883 - 1885

Mint

Mintmark of Monnaie de Paris Monnaie de Paris, Paris (and Pessac starting 1973), France (864-date)

Comments

The Tonkin Expedition commemorative medal (French: Médaille commémorative de l'expédition du Tonkin) was awarded to all the French soldiers and sailors who took part in the battles of the Tonkin campaign and the Sino-French War between 1883 and 1885. The medal, decreed by a law of 6 September 1885, was minted at the Monnaie de Paris and distributed shortly before the Bastille Day parade on 14 July 1886 to around 65,000 soldiers and sailors. The medal was later awarded to participants in a number of earlier and later campaigns in Indochina, bringing the total number of recipients to 97,300.

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
1885  97 300

Get this item

No member from this site currently wants to exchange it.

Numista Rarity index: 93 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Contribute to the catalogue

Modify or add data on this page
Register a past auction sale
Register an example of this type
Duplicate this page
Share: Facebook X (Twitter)