Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Bombay Yacht Club Life Saving Medal 1849, silver, 64mm, lion walking left before palm tree, the reverse with 12-line inscription in an archaic Mahratti script which translates: ‘To Sinwar Koli. This seal has been issued by the Yacht Club, Bombay (owned by white sahebs who used to enjoy the sea air by sailing in boats) because, in 1849 [Hindu calendar Sakha 1771] in the rainy season, their boat named Wave capsized in which he and two Europeans were sailing. He saved them with his valour. Therefore the seal is awarded to him.’, impressed around the edge ‘The Bombay Yacht Club to Sinwar Fisherman 1849’, fitted with ring suspension which has been re-fixed with glue, edge bruises, otherwise very fine and very rare £500-£700

Provenance: Richard B. Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003.

See Puddester 828.1 for same medal commemorating the Completion of the Bombay Mint, 1828. The above example was probably adapted from one of these. The obverse is an enlargement of the gold coinage issued by the Hon. East India Company. The design was created by Robert Gordon, 2nd Bn. Bombay Artillery, and first appeared in Bombay in 1828 as a copper pattern.