Pewter medal commemorating the Fall of Sebastopol and the Treaty of Paris, 1856

The obverse bears the inscription: 'THE ALLIES GIVE PEACE TO EUROPE MARCH 30TH 1856', within a circular laurel wreath entwined with ribbons bearing the names of the allied countries. The reverse depicts a view of Sevastopol, within a rectangle superimposed upon a trophy of flags, above which is a pair of scales between laurel sprays with rays in the background. Below is depicted a snake cut in two, among rushes with the words: 'SINOPE' and 'HANGO', which allude to naval engagements during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

The Battle of Sinope occurred on 30 November 1853 at Sinope, a sea port in northern Turkey, when Russian battleships annihilated a force of Ottoman Empire frigates (type of warships). It is often considered to be the last great battle of the epoch of sailing and the first battle of the Crimean War. At Hango on 5 June 1855, a boat conveying ashore the crews of captured Finnish ships was fired on by the Russians with nearly every man being killed.

Donated by Mr H R Walker.