Item number: M201

Year: AD 2000s

Material: Bronze

Size: 56.6 x 16.1 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 6.4 g

Provenance: Private Collector, USA, 2023

This is a modern miniature of the United States “China Relief Expedition Navy Service Medal,” designed to replicate the appearance of the medal reissued in AD 1913. On June 27, AD 1908, the United States Navy Department established the “China Relief Expedition Service Medal” through a general order. There are two versions of the medal, one for the Navy and one for the Marine Corps, depending on the branch of service. The medal was awarded to soldiers who participated in land operations and actions in the waters near China as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance from May 24, AD 1900, to May 27, AD 1901.

The medal is circular in shape, with a ring suspension attaching to a ribbon featuring yellow with blue stripes. In the AD 1913 reissue of the medal, the blue stripes were moved from the inner part to the edge of the ribbon. The obverse inner edge depicts the Zhengyangmen, one of the nine gates of Beijing, where the American forces, part of the international coalition, engaged in fierce combat with Qing troops and the Boxers. Below the gate is an engraving of a dragon, symbolising China. The outer ring bears the inscription “CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION” in English, with the year below. The first batch of 400 medals issued had “1901,” while later versions were changed to “1900.”

The central motif on the reverse side is the emblem of the United States Navy, featuring a spread-winged bald eagle grasping an anchor. The inscriptions on either side of the eagle read “UNITED STATES NAVY,” and below is “FOR SERVICE.” At the bottom of the medal is a floral wreath pattern composed of oak leaves and laurel leaves.

Among the initial batch of 400 medals awarded, 11 were conferred upon “warships” that participated in the mission. These vessels were named: Brooklyn, Buffalo, Iris, Monocacy, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark, Solace, Wheeling, Yorktown, and Zafiro.

物件編號: M201

年代: 約公元 2000 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 56.6 x 16.1 x 2.0 mm

重量: 6.4 g

來源: 美國私人收藏 2023

這是一枚當代製造的迷你版美國「海軍遣華解救遠征軍獎章」，其仿造公元1913年再版的獎章外觀。公元1908年6月27日，美國海軍部通過普通命令設置「遣華解救遠征軍獎章」，按兵種差異有海軍和陸戰隊兩種版本。該獎章授予公元1900年5月24日起，至翌年5月27日參與八國聯軍的陸地作戰和中國近海行動的士兵。

獎章外觀為圓形，以環形懸掛銜接黃底藍條的綬帶。公元1913年獎章再版時，藍色條紋位置已從內側移動到綬帶邊緣。正面內廓的城門，是北京內九門之一的正陽門，包含美軍的聯軍在此跟清軍和義和團有過激烈交火，另外在城門下方刻有代表中國的龍。外圈為「遣華解救遠征」英文銘文，至於下方的年份，第一批頒發的400枚獎章為「1901」字樣，後期版本則改為「1900」。背面中央是美國海軍的軍徽，一隻腳抓船錨的展翅白頭鷹。老鷹兩側的銘文是「美國海軍」，下方則是「用於服務」。獎章最下方是橡樹葉和月桂葉組成的花環圖案。

第一批頒發的400枚獎章中，其中11枚的頒發對象是參與任務的「軍艦」，艦名分別為：布魯克林、水牛、艾莉詩、莫諾卡西、納什維爾、新奧爾良、紐華克、慰藉、惠靈、約克鎮和藍寶石。