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Maker(s):

Birmingham; mint
Victoria (1837-1901); ruler; Queen of Great Britain 1837-1901
Battenburg, Princess Henry of; artist
queen; ruler; with the title of

Name(s):

Ashanti Star; denomination
medals; Series
Military; subseries
Britain; subsubseries
British Army; subsubsubseries

Date:

1896

Description:

The Ashanti Confederation, which had existed since 1695, was from 1888 ruled by King Prempeh I, who pursued a determined policy of independence while considerably expanding his empire. In 1896 however, Britain, alleging Ashanti cannibalism and human sacrifice, and under the pretext of recovering a debt that the previous ruler had incurred to the British twenty years before, sent forces into the Ashanti capital of Kumase, in modern-day Ghana. Prempeh, in order to avoid bloodshed, offered no resistance and allowed himself to be deposed. He was exiled by the British, but was allowed to return as a private citizen in 1924.
This star, which combines a four-pointed star with the cross of St Andrew and is struck from gun-metal, was awarded to the troops who took part in the 1896 expedition that took Kumase. It was reportedly designed by Princess Henry of Battenburg, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter Beatrice, whose husband Prince Henry of Battenburg died of illness contracted on this campaign.
It is unnamed, and the recipient therefore unknown. Lester Watson purchased it from the London dealer Spink at some point before 1928.

Production
Place(s):

, Birmingham, Soho mint

Production
Place (legacy):

Birmingham, mint, place

Technique:

struck

Material:

gun-metal

Dimension(s):

weight, 21.12, g
diameter, 37.3, mm

Acquisition:

loan; 2005; Cambridge in America

Inscription(s):

design; obverse; ASHANTI + 1896 +; Central crown with inscription around
design; reverse; Inscription

Alternative
Number(s):

Watson Catalogue; 30
ordering; M-0028

Documentation:

Hayward, John (author, C20th). Birch, Diana. Bishop, Richard. 2006. British Battles and Medals 7th edn.London: Spinkp. 397

British and other Campaign and Gallantry Medals From the Collection of Lester Watson (d. 1959).
Ashanti Star 1896: unnamed

Accession:

Object Number: LW.0028
(Coins and Medals)
(record id: 141239; input: 2007-03-27; modified: 2013-03-05)

Permanent
Identifier:

http://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141239