Item number: M129

Year: AD 1895-1914

Material: Silver

Size: 29.3 x 100.5 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 27.25 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This medal was instituted by France in AD 1895 as the Colonial Medal, with the depicted example bearing a clasp inscribed “Tonkin,” referring to the colonial territory. It was awarded to individuals who served in French colonies or protectorates and took part in colonial military operations.

The medal is circular and made of silver. The obverse features a profile portrait of Marianne, the national emblem of the French Republic, wearing a helmet and a laurel wreath. The inscription “République française” (French Republic) appears on both sides of the portrait. Beneath the bust is a small inscription of the name of the French sculptor Georges Lemaire, who designed the medal. The reverse depicts the Eastern Hemisphere resting on an anchor, with the French inscription “Medaille Coloniale” below, denoting the name of the award. The suspension connecting the medal to the ribbon is decorated with laurel branches. The ribbon is composed of alternating blue and white stripes, with a clasp inscribed “Tonkin” affixed to it.

To meet the large production demand, the medal itself was manufactured by the Paris Mint, while the clasps were produced by private contractors commissioned by the Paris Mint, namely MERCIER, Camille RQUX, and J. SALAT. A lozenge-shaped hallmark on the right side of the clasp’s obverse identifies one of these three makers, though it is difficult to discern due to wear. Based on the laurel-shaped suspension design, this clasp was most likely made by MERCIER, who produced such medal clasps between AD 1895 and 1913. Below the lozenge hallmark is a pig’s head mark, indicating official assay certification.

The Colonial Medal was created in AD 1895 to succeed and replace the “Tonkin Commemorative Medal,” which had been instituted in AD 1885. It was awarded to naval and army personnel who, from AD 1893 onwards, participated in military operations in the regions of Annam or Tonkin. Between AD 1916 and 1929, it was extended on several occasions to recognise those who took part in suppression operations. From AD 1936 onwards, the “TONKIN” clasp was replaced by one inscribed “INDOCHINE” (Indochina). On June 6, AD 1962, France issued a decree replacing the name “Colonial Medal” with “Overseas Medal,” a designation that remains in effect as of AD 2024.

Tonkin:
Tonkin is a geographical name located in the northern part of the Red River Delta in Vietnam, historically part of the Later Lê Dynasty before being designated as the Tonkin Protectorate by France. During the Later Lê Dynasty, Tonkin was referred to as “Tang Ngoai,” denoting the northern region of the Red River Delta, known as Hanoi at the time. With the outbreak of the Zheng-Ruan conflict, Westerners began using the term “Tonkin” to refer to the territory under Zheng’s rule, contrasting it with “Cochinchina,” which referred to territories under Ruan’s rule in the south. Despite Vietnam’s unification in AD 1802, both terms continued to be used, signifying the northern and southern regions of Vietnam respectively.

However, with the outbreak of the Sino-French War, France established the Tonkin Protectorate in Tonkin in AD 1885, according to the Second Treaty of Hue, governing separately from the protectorate of Annam. During this period, Tonkin served as the administrative centre of French rule in northern Vietnam. Nevertheless, following the failure of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, France lost control of Tonkin. After the expulsion of French colonial forces by the Vietnamese people, the name Tonkin gradually faded into obscurity and ceased to be used.

物件編號: M129

年代: 公元 1895-1914 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 29.3 x 100.5 x 1.0 mm

重量: 27.25 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

此枚為法國於公元1895年開始頒發的殖民地獎章，上方掛有殖民地「Tonkin」的銘牌。此獎章授予那些在法國殖民地或保護國服役、參與殖民地軍事行動的人員。 

獎章的外型為圓形銀質獎章，獎章的正面為法蘭西共和國的國家象徵「瑪麗安娜」的側面肖像，頭戴頭盔與月桂花環，左右兩側環繞有「République française (法蘭西共和國)」的字樣。獎章下方有小字刻有設計此獎章的法國雕塑家「 Georges Lemaire 」的名字。背面則為東半面的地球疊放在錨上，下方以法文刻有「Medaille Coloniale」的字樣，其意為此獎章的名稱殖民地獎章。獎章與綬帶的懸掛處以月桂枝葉作為設計，綬帶的顏色藍白相間，另外綬帶還掛有「Tonkin (東京)」字樣銘牌。 

為應對龐大的獎章頒發量，獎章本體由巴黎造幣廠製作，銘牌則由巴黎造幣廠委託私人製造商製作，分別為MERCIER、Camille RQUX與J. SALAT，銘牌正面右側的菱形戳記即應為三製造商之一，因磨損而難以辨別。依月桂狀懸掛的造型，應為MERCIER，該製造商自公元1895至1913年間製造了此類獎章銘牌。菱形戳記下方另有一豬頭戳記，表由官方授權認證。

此獎章於公元1895年設立，性質承繼並取代公元1885年伊始的「東京紀念勳章」，授予自公元1893年起參與安南或東京地區軍事行動的海軍和陸軍人員。公元1916至1929年間多次擴頒，以獎勵參與鎮壓行動的人員。公元1936年起，「TONKIN」銘牌則由「INDOCHINE(印度支那)」銘牌所取代。公元1962年6月6日法國頒布法令，以「海外獎章」的名稱取代「殖民地獎章」，一直至公元2024年仍有效力。 

東京(法語: Tonkin)
東京為中南半島的一個地名，位於越南北部紅河三角洲，歷史上曾是後黎朝的一部分，後來被法國稱為東京保護領。在後黎朝時期，東京被稱為「唐外」，也就是紅河三角洲地區的北部，是當時河內的名字。隨著鄭阮紛爭的爆發，西方人開始將「東京」這個詞用於指代鄭主統治的地域，與阮主統治的地區「交趾支那」相對應。儘管在公元1802年越南統一後，這兩個詞仍然被使用，分別用於指代越南的北部和南部。

然而，隨著中法戰爭的爆發，法國於公元1885年根據《第二次順化條約》在東京設立了東京保護領，與安南保護國分開統治。這一時期，東京成為法國在越南北部的統治中心。然而，隨著奠邊府戰役的失敗，法國失去了對東京的控制。在法國殖民勢力被越南人民驅逐後，東京這個名字漸漸被遺忘，不再被使用。