A SCARCE & PRACTICALLY “MINT STATE” CRIMEA MEDAL (FOUR CLASPS)

ALMA, BALAKLAVA, INKERMANN, SEBASTOPOL.

3432. Pte. Thomas Eccles. 68th Foot Regt (Durham Light Infantry)



Officially Impressed
To:
THOs ECCLES 68th FOOT

This is a seriously lovely and very unusual medal which clearly illustrates the confusion which was present with the record keeping and medal issue during the Crimean war. This is quite clearly a totally original and “crisp” example of a four clasp medal which having never been altered, is completely “as made” and undisturbed in any way.

Regimental figures confirm that there were 1181 medals issued to the men of the 68th, with about 33% (406) men being issued with a four clasp medal. However, the medal roll records only the two clasps Inkerman and Sebastopol for Thomas Eccles. It is very common indeed to find Crimea medals which were issued (from new) with missing clasp entitlements, but to see an original (and officially impressed) “mint state” medal with two extra clasps is in our experience pretty much unknown. Medal production was an expensive business and great care was taken when physically constructing these medals which ‘tend’ to be a clasp or two short rather than having two clasps extra !

We would therefore submit that on this occasion it’s very much the rolls which are in error and not the construction of this lovely and totally original medal and that Thomas Eccles is indeed entitled to this lovely four clasp medal.

MINT STATE and OFFICIALLY IMPRESSED.

£1350