Delhi Durbar Medal

Delhi Durbar Medals were instituted to by Great Britain to commemorate each Delhi Durbar where the new Emperor of India was proclaimed, in 1903 for Edward VII, and in 1911 for George V. On both occasions the medals, one and a half inches in diameter, were awarded in both gold and silver and worn on the left chest suspended from a ribbon one and a quarter inches wide.

Delhi Durbar Medal, 1903
Obverse: The crowned head of the king facing right wearing an ermine robe of State, with the Collar of the Garter, and Badge of the Order of the Bath. Below the bust a branch of laurel with, around the rim, the legend, EDWARD VII DELHI DURBAR 1903. Reverse: Inset within a floral wreath of roses - a Persian inscription reading : By the Favour of the Lord of the Realm Edward, King, Emperor of India, 1901.

140 gold medals were awarded to ruling chiefs and 2,567 in silver to other dignitaries, government officials and members of the armed forces, who were actually involved in the celebrations.

Delhi Durbar Medal, 1911
Obverse: The conjoined busts of King George V and Queen Mary within a floral wreath of roses. Reverse: A legend in Persian, which translates as The Durbar of George V, Emperor of India, Master of the British Land.

Two hundred gold medals were struck for award to ruling chiefs and high ranking officials. 30,000 silver medals were struck, with 26,800 awarded to civic dignitaries, government officials, and including 10,000 to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. The medal was distributed, not only to those present at the Durbar, but to others throughout India who contributed to the Raj.

The ribbon was the same as for the medal for King George's Coronation, and while the obverse design is the same, the Durbar Medal is larger, being 1½ inches in diameter, compared with 1¼ inches for the Coronation Medal. Both medals could not be worn together, and those eligible for both wore a clasp bearing the word 'Delhi' on the ribbon of the Coronation Medal.

Durbar clasp for Coronation Medal ribbon