This medal was distributed generally to the allied forces. On the
obverse are the four flags of France, Turkey, England, and Sardinia, and
beneath is a map of the Crimea spread over a gun wheel, which rests upon
the Russian flag; a mortar and anchor, etc., are arranged alongside. The
word “Crimea,” and the date, 1855, are under all. On the reverse is the
Sultan’s cypher, beneath which is inscribed “Crimea” in Turkish, and
lower still is the year of the Hegira, 1271, written from right to left,
corresponding with the year 1855. Ribbon crimson, with light green
edges. These medals were issued without names, or regiments, engraved,
or indented on them. There is a variation in the arrangement of the
flags; in those medals intended for the Sardinian forces the flag of
that country is next to that of Turkey, and the words “La Crimée,” with
the date, are inserted. This, it is needless to state, is Italian, and
many of the medals first issued to the British soldiers are of that
pattern, arising probably from the demand being greater than the supply,
or from the fact of a number of them being lost in consequence of the
wreck of the vessel conveying them to this country. The medal issued to
the French army has the flag of that nation next to that of Turkey,
corresponding with the Sardinian and British, and inscribed “La Crimée.”
Those supplied to the latter are like the engraving, and although the
difference is but slight, yet the reason of it may not be uninteresting.