- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Year of Institution: 1 June 1874
- Country: Great Britain
The Ashantee Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British, Colonial and allied native forces who were deployed against the army of the Ashanti King Kofi Karikari during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War, from June 1873 to February 1874. The medal was instituted on 1 June 1874.
Forces present included a Royal Navy contingent exceeding 3,500, two battalions of the West India Regiment, and a battalion each from the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the Black Watch and the Rifle Brigade.
The Ashantee Medal Design
The Ashantee medal is struck in silver, circular, and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter. It was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon (the obverse) and Sir Edward Poynter (the reverse).
The obverse displays the diademed, veiled head of Queen Victoria and the inscription VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse shows a scene of bush fighting between British and Ashanti in dense jungle, inspired by the campaign.
The ribbon measures 31.7 millimeters (1.25 in) wide, with yellow with black edges and two narrow black central stripes.
The recipient’s name and unit was engraved on the rim of the medal in capitals, filled with black, along with the years 1873-4.
