Item number: M400

Year: AD 1861

Material: Silver

Size: 100.8 x 36.1 x 2.9 mm

Weight: 52.85 g

Manufactured by: Royal Mint

Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024

This is a silver “Second China War Medal,” issued in AD 1861 by the British government to recognise the service of members of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Indian colonial forces who participated in the Second Opium War between AD 1857 and AD 1860.

The overall design of this medal closely follows the style of the AD 1843 China War Medal, originally crafted by William Wyon, the chief engraver of the Royal Mint. The obverse features a left-facing bust of Queen Victoria in her youth, representing the monarch during the early years of her reign. The face bears four vertical scratch marks. Below the queen’s shoulder is a faintly inscribed signature—the name “William Wyon RA”, acknowledging the original engraver.

The reverse of the medal depicts a palm tree, beneath which lie the shield of the British royal coat of arms, along with cannons and various military equipment. Encircling the top edge is the Latin inscription “ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM” (To seek peace through force). At the bottom, the word “CHINA” is inscribed. Unlike the AD 1843 version of the China War Medal, this version of the Second China War Medal omits the engraved year at the bottom.

The upper edge of the medal features a swivel scroll suspension in the shape of wings, a design choice that differentiates it from the bar suspension used in the AD 1843 version. The medal is attached to a ribbon with a red background and yellow stripes, designed for recipients to wear on the chest. The ribbon is adorned with four clasps, inscribed respectively with the name “G. DONOGHUE” (Gio Donoghue), “TAKU FORTS 1860,” “TAKU FORTS 1857,” and “CANTON 1857.” Notably, the name clasp was not officially issued but was later added by the recipient. Its border is noticeably wider and more robust in comparison to the official clasps.

This medal offers a total of six clasp varieties:

CHINA 1842

FATSHAN 1857

CANTON 1857

TAKU FORTS 1858

TAKU FORTS 1860

PEKIN 1860

The “CHINA 1842” clasp was exclusively awarded to individuals who had already earned the medal for the First China War.

Unlike their army counterparts, who had their names and regimental numbers engraved on the medal’s edge, members of the Royal Navy did not have such inscriptions. Gio Donoghue served aboard the gunboat Slaney, which had been active in military operations across the Far East since its launch in AD 1857. The Slaney remained in service until May 9, AD 1870, when it was wrecked in a typhoon off the coast of Hong Kong.

The Second Opium War originated from the Arrow Incident, in which Qing authorities forcibly boarded a vessel flying the British flag, triggering diplomatic tensions. In response, Britain sought an alliance with France, which was also in conflict with China over the Xilin Missionary Case.

In AD 1858, the Anglo-French coalition forced the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Tianjin, expanding access to additional treaty ports for foreign trade. However, in June AD 1859, tensions escalated when Qing officials detained and mistreated British and French envoys en route to Beijing for the treaty ratification. This provoked a renewed military campaign, culminating in the Anglo-French forces advancing on Beijing and destroying the imperial gardens of the Yuanmingyuan, a symbol of Sino-European cultural fusion.

The war officially ended in AD 1860 with the signing of the Convention of Beijing, which confirmed the terms of the earlier treaty. Additionally, Russia exploited the situation by mediating the peace process and, in return, compelled the Qing Empire to cede territories east of the Ussuri River.

物件編號: M400

年代: 公元 1861 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 100.8 x 36.1 x 2.9 mm

重量: 52.85 g

製造地: 皇家造幣廠

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2024

這是一枚公元1861年，英國政府為獎勵參加公元1857至1860年間，投入第二次鴉片戰爭的英國皇家海軍和陸軍，以及印度殖民地陸軍的銀質「第二次中國戰爭獎章」。

這枚獎章的整體造型，大致沿用公元1843年，皇家造幣廠首席雕刻師威廉·威恩設計的「中國戰爭獎章」樣式。即獎章正面為時任英國統治者的維多利亞女王，於登基初期的年輕左側胸像，臉部有四道垂直的刮痕。女王的肩膀下方有著不甚清晰的一行英文戳記是威廉·威恩的名字「William Wyon RA」。

獎章背面有一棵棕櫚樹，樹下有一面英國皇家紋章的盾牌、火炮和各種兵械。上緣環有拉丁文字樣「ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM」(以武力求取和平)。底部標示「CHINA」(中國)。第二次中國戰爭獎章跟公元1843年版本相比，少了在最下方鐫刻年份的設計。

獎章上緣以設計為翅膀造型的螺旋式懸掛，亦是跟採納桿式懸掛的公元1843年版本之間的一大差異。獎章以懸掛銜接紅底黃條綬帶，供得獎者配戴於胸前。綬帶上面則附有四個銘牌，分別是姓名「G.DONOGHUE」(吉奧·多諾霍)、「TAKU FORTS 1860」(大沽口1860)、「TAKU FORTS 1857」(大沽口1857) 和「CANTON 1857」(廣東1857)。其中的姓名銘牌並非由官方頒發，而是得獎者後續自行追加，其邊框明顯較為寬胖。

這款獎章總計有六種銘牌：「中國1842」、「佛山1857」、「廣州1857」、「大沽口1858」、「大沽口1860」和「北京1860」。

「中國1842」銘牌是特別頒發給第一次中國戰爭獎章的得獎者。

不同於陸軍同僚能在獎章側邊鐫刻姓名和部隊番號，皇家海軍並未在獎章側邊鐫刻部隊番號和姓名。吉奧·多諾霍服役於「斯萊尼號」砲艇，自公元1857年下水以來，斯萊尼號就活躍於遠東地區的軍事活動，直到公元1870年5月9日在香港遭遇颱風觸礁沉沒。

第二次鴉片戰爭源於「亞羅號事件」，清國查緝員強行登上掛有英國國旗的船隻稽查，使得英國決定邀請因「西林教案」和中國產生摩擦的法國一同參與針對中國的軍事行動。公元1858年，英法聯軍成功迫使清廷簽訂《天津條約》開放更多的通商港口。然而隔年的6月，英法雙方因前往北京換約的大使和隨從遭到清廷軟禁和凌虐，再度向北京進軍還燒毀中西合璧的皇家林園圓明園。直到公元1860年，英法兩國和清廷簽訂《北京條約》方才宣告戰爭結束。而俄國也趁勢以協助和談邀功，迫使清帝國割讓烏蘇里江以東的領土。