The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A Crimean War D.C.M. to Corporal William Finch, Coldstream Guards

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R., obverse bust of Queen Victoria in place of usual ‘Trophy of Arms’ (Wm. Finch Coldstream Guards) naming engraved in script, good very fine and a very rare trial or specimen striking £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Ex Sir Torquil Matheson Collection.

The original issue D.C.M. to Corporal William Finch was sold in Hayward’s Gazette, May 1979.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 2 April 1855: 3257 Corporal William Finch, 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards.

William Finch was born at Woodnorton, Norfolk, a Sawyer by trade. He enlisted into the Coldstream Guards on 30 December 1846, was promoted to Sergeant in September 1855 but reverted to Private in January 1856. In April 1848, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Rifles and was discharged owing to illness on 9 January 1866, at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. In addition to the D.C.M. he was entitled to the Crimea medal with clasps for Alma and Inkermann.

This particular specimen is noted by Abbott & Tamplin in British Gallantry Awards which states: ‘A D.C.M. exists which has for obverse Queen Victoria’s effigy as it appears on the M.S.M., having no date below the bust. This medal had every appearance of being struck officially and it may have been a trial pattern. However, it is difficult to see why such a striking should have been made since when the initial order was placed with the Royal Mint on 2nd February 1855 it was made clear that the obverse was to be as for the L.S. & G.C. Medal. The medal referred to here is named in a highly suspect engraved, interrupted and irregular script to Corporal William Finch, Coldstream Guards, who was a Crimean recipient. It could be that the striking is in some way connected with that of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal of 1874.’