The ‘Seringapatam Medal’ 1799, Gold, Obv: The British lion trampling the Indian Tiger called Tipu, Rev: Battle scene of the British with the army of Tipu Sultan, AH 1213, AD 4 May 1799.Encased in a red leather box with emblazoned golden border.The red box in which the medal is stored shows typical workmanship of early 18th century Europe, with neo-classical motifs of cypress leaves and soft tendrils. It is possible that it is a replacement for the original case that came with the medal. Exceedingly rare.
The ‘Seringapatam’ medal was issued by the East India Company for award to both British and Indian troops and marked the defeat of Tipu Sultan, the 'Tiger of Mysore', at Seringapatam during the 4th Mysore War (1799).
The obverse bears an allegorical figure of British ‘lion’ triumphing over Tipu Sultan the ‘tiger’. The Arabic inscription on the pennon reads, ‘As’ad Allah al-Ghalib’ or 'The Victorious Lion of God'. The date of the final assault, 4th May 1799 is inscribed below in Roman numerals. On the reverse the fortress of Seringapatam is depicted under attack, with an inscription below in Farsi, 'SeringapatamKhudadad Ra 28 Dhu’lqada 1213 Hijri’ (Seringapatam given by God, on 28th Zilqad, AH1213)
The ‘Seringapatam Medal’ was designed by Conrad Heinrich Küchler at the Birmingham (Soho) Mint and produced in gold, silver gilt, silver, bronze and pewter. A slightly smaller version in gold and silver only was produced at the Calcutta Mint. A large number (about 50,000) were struck in different metals - Gold was struck for the King, the Governor-General of India Lord Cornwallis, the Nizam, certain Nawabs and Rajas, the Commander- in- Chief and the General Officers on the Staff.