Cleveland 1793-1945 Historic Campaign Medal Tokens (16 Set)

克里夫蘭1793-1945歷史戰役獎牌代幣系列 (16)

Item number: M237-1~16 / C137

Year: AD 1971

The results after XRF testing

Size: Token 19.0 x 19.0 x 1.8 mm / Album 28.0 x 61.0 cm

Weight: per Token 1.20-1.25 g

Provenance:

1. Private Collector, UK, 2023 (Tokens)

2. Gillys Antiques 2024 (Album)

This is a collection album from AD 1971, created by Cleveland, a British subsidiary acquired by the American Esso Company. It was produced in collaboration with the renowned medal manufacturer and auction house, Spink, to honour the wars participated in by the British military over two centuries. The album includes tokens of sixteen medals originally awarded by the British government.

The cover of the collection album features a prominent visual of a pile of trophies, a common design element for medals. Above the trophies is the blue logo of the publisher “Cleveland,” while below is the title of the collection book, “HISTORIC CAMPAIGN MEDALS 1793-1945.” The reverse side of the collection album displays images of the obverse sides of the medals along with detailed historical backgrounds. In the lower right corner, there is the logo of the collaborating entity, “Spink Auction House.”

The inside cover of the collection album features illustrations of locations and military uniforms associated with British military engagements. The left-hand page displays the battles and uniforms of the British Army in Europe and North Africa, corresponding to a total of nine medals. The right-hand page is divided into three maps: South Asia, Indochina, and South Africa, indicating the battles and uniforms related to seven medals.

The inner pages of the collection album are arranged chronologically, displaying sixteen medal tokens in two rows. Each token’s obverse side recreates the reverse design of the original medal, while the reverse side of the token is inscribed with the medal’s name and the year it was awarded. Despite having a high iron content, the tokens are unusually lightweight, suggesting that their core is likely made of plastic polymer. Each token is set in a black-backed slot, accompanied by a colourful depiction of the corresponding ribbon and a nameplate. Below each slot, there is a detailed description of the campaign associated with the medal.

The bottom section of the inner pages briefly outlines significant battles and achievements from the past two hundred years, including conflicts such as the Napoleonic Wars and the Crimean War. It also mentions that by AD 1971, the British government had issued over 180 medals and 537 clasps. Additionally, there is a discussion on the official processes and eligibility criteria for the award of these medals by the British authorities.

物件編號: M237-1~16 / C137

年代: 公元 1971 年

XRF分析結果:

尺寸: 代幣 19.0 x 19.0 x 1.8 mm / 冊子 28.0 x 61.0 cm

重量: 每枚代幣 1.20-1.25 g

來源:

1. 英國私人收藏 2023 (代幣)

2. 吉利骨董 2024 (冊子)

這是一本公元1971年，美國埃索公司購併的英國子公司「克里夫蘭」為紀念英國軍隊兩百年間參與的戰爭，跟著名的獎章製造商暨拍賣行「斯賓克」合作，復刻英國政府頒發之十六枚獎章的代幣收藏冊。

收藏冊封面以經常作為獎章設計元素的戰利品堆為主視覺。戰利品上方是發行商「克里夫蘭」藍色商標，下方是收藏冊標題「HISTORIC CAMPAIGN MEDALS 1793-1945」(歷史戰役獎章1793-1945)。收藏冊背面印有獎章的正面圖像和歷史背景詳述，右下角是合作單位「斯賓克拍賣行」徽記。

封面攤開的左右扉頁印有英軍參戰的地點和軍服，左側扉頁印有英軍在歐洲和北非參加的戰役和軍服，共計有九枚獎章。右側扉頁分為南亞、印度支那和南非三個地圖，標示出七枚獎章涉及的戰役和軍服。

收藏冊的內頁打開是按時代先後，分為兩排的十六枚獎章代幣。每一枚代幣的正面復刻獎章背面的圖案，代幣背面則打印獎章名稱和頒發年份。獎章成分雖然具有高比例的鐵，其重量卻異常輕巧，代表其內部可能是塑膠聚合物。每一枚代幣安置的黑底欄位，皆有彩繪對應獎章的綬帶和銘牌，下方則是各個獎章的戰役背景介紹。

內頁的最下方，簡述兩百年間諸如拿破崙戰爭和克里米亞戰爭的著名戰役和功績。並且提到截至公元1971年，英國官方已頒布超過180枚獎章和537個行動銘牌。還有講述英國官方對於頒發獎章的流程和身分限制。

類似/相同物件 請看:

英國 菲茨威廉博物館 The Fitzwilliam Museum

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141545

英國 帝國戰爭博物館 Imperial War Museum

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30009200

更多相關訊息請參考:

John Hayward, Diana Birch and Richard Bishop, British Battles and Medals Seventh Edition (London: Spink, 2006)