1854 Second China War medal with four clasps: CHINA 1842, FATSHAN 1857, CANTON 1857, TAKU FORTS 1860. Silver, 36 mm. MY-122 (clasps i, ii, iii, v), BBM-78. Swivel mount and scroll suspension. Extremely Fine.

Unnamed. Polished to brilliance but retaining good reflectivity in the fields. Only trivial marks are seen. Medals presented to members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were issued unnamed. The CHINA 1842 clasp saw a total distribution of just 101 clasps, issued to those who served in both the First and Second Opium Wars, of which 57 were assigned to veterans of the campaign entitled to four clasps on this medal. The CHINA 1842 clasp on a Second China War medal represents an interesting historical bridge between the First and Second Opium Wars, a time of increasing British imperialism in Asia that had profound impacts on the future of the Chinese state. Offered with an appropriate (original type) ribbon of uncertain age, but quite likely original to the medal.

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From the Gem Collection.