Original Victorian Baltic Medal 1854–1855 – Royal Navy & Royal Marines Crimean War Campaign Medal

Original Victorian Baltic Medal 1854–1855

An original Victorian Baltic Medal 1854–1855, awarded for service with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during the Baltic Campaign of the Crimean War.

The obverse features the young portrait of Queen Victoria with the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA”. The reverse depicts Britannia seated with a trident, symbolising British naval supremacy, with the dates 1854–1855 commemorating the Baltic campaign.

This medal is unnamed, with no recipient’s details on the rim.

Specifications

• Country: United Kingdom
• Campaign: Baltic Campaign, Crimean War (1854–1855)
• Medal: Baltic Medal
• Monarch: Queen Victoria
• Material: Silver
• Diameter: 36 mm
• Original issue

Condition

The medal is in good overall condition.

It shows minor surface marks, light visible wear, and small imperfections consistent with age and careful handling. Despite these signs of use, the medal retains well-defined details on both the obverse and reverse, making it an attractive example for collectors.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and condition assessment.

Historical Background

The Baltic Medal was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 to recognise the service of officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who took part in the Baltic Campaign of the Crimean War during 1854–1855.

Unlike the better-known land campaign in Crimea, the Baltic Campaign was a major naval operation against the Russian Empire. The British and French fleets blockaded Russian ports in the Baltic Sea, protected maritime trade routes, and attacked key Russian naval fortifications, including the heavily defended fortress of Bomarsund in 1854 and Sveaborg (now part of Helsinki, Finland) in 1855. These operations significantly weakened Russian naval power in the Baltic and formed an important part of the Allied strategy during the Crimean War.

The medal was awarded exclusively to members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who participated in these operations, making it a distinctive Victorian naval campaign medal and an important piece of British military history.