1839 Ghuznee medal. Silver, 37 mm. MY-105, BBM-59. Edge mount, hinged bar suspension. Extremely Fine.

1839 Ghuznee medal. Silver, 37 mm. MY-105, BBM-59. Edge mount, hinged bar suspension. Extremely Fine.

GEOe BROWN, 17th REGt engraved on edge. Attractive gold and rose tone on the lustrous obverse, brilliant and somewhat polished on the reverse, but still retaining some blue and violet highlights around design elements. An impressive medal, depicting the fortress at Ghazni (Ghuznee), taken by British forces on July 23, 1839, just four months after their initial invasion of Afghanistan during the First Anglo-Afghan War. Perhaps predictably, the war ended in unmitigated disaster and embarrassing, total defeat.

The Ghuznee medal was issued unnamed and uninscribed, but many were subsequently either engraved on the reverse or, as here, on the edge. More than 8,000 were awarded, the vast majority to rank and file soldiers, including members of the 2nd, 13th, and 17th Regiments of Foot.

Offered with a modern ribbon.

Estimate: $300 - $500.

Provenance: From the Gem Collection.

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