- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Year of Institution: 1795
- Country: Great Britain
The Naval Gold Medal is a British Campaign medal awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.
Twenty-two large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet, while 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. Because a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one.
Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath.
The Naval Gold Medal Design
The medal was struck in gold and measured 51 mm (large) and 38 mm (small) in diameter.
The obverse shows the winged figure of Victory bestowing a laurel wreath on the head of Britannia, standing in the prow of a galley with a Union Jack shield behind her. Her right foot is on a helmet, and her left hand holds a spear.
The reverse bears the engraved rank and name of the recipient, and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal has a surround of a wreath of oak and laurel.
The ribbon measures 44mm wide for the large medal and 38 mm for the small, and is white with dark blue edges.
