My cased Imperial Service Medal collection

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello everyone,

I've wanted to post this portion of my collection which is a "type" collection of Imperial Service Medals for some time and today I decided to take the time to do so. The photos of my collection will follow the short history.

The Imperial Service Medal

The Imperial Service Order was instituted in 1902 by King Edward VII as a means of rewarding long and faithful service in the Administrative and Clerical grades or the Civil Service, senior grades. Women were admitted to the Order in 1908. The ISO was silver with gold overlay.

Also in 1902 the Imperial Service Medal was instituted, it was the same as the ISO but for junior grades of the Civil Service and was silver and bronze.

In 1920 a circular medal was introduced for the junior grades and was silver. This is the subject of my post.

The circular ISM types are as follows with the number issued in brackets,

George V

Coinage profile 1920 - 31 (20,000)

Crowned bust, 1931 - 37 (16,000)

George VI

Crowned bust INDIAE:IMP 1938 - 48 (36,000)

Crowned bust FID:DEF, 949 - 52 (16,000)

Elizabeth II

Tudor crown BRITT:OMN, 1953 - 54 (9,000)

Tudor crown DEI:GRATIA, 1955 - (150,000 as of 2004)

Reference material: Medal Year Book 2004, Medal News

The following are photos of my collection. I have been fortunate to have one cased ISM with its award document. I have not seen a lot of these medals offered for sale with their document nor have I seen a lot of documents on their own which I find odd. Regardless I hope you like my small "type" collection of cased ISM. The last photo will show the obverse and the reverse.

Regards

Brian

[Brian Wolfe]

The individual medals will be shown in the oder listed above, George V through to Elizabeth II.

First, George V Coinage profile 1920 - 31

Edited October 25, 2009 by Brian Wolfe

[Brian Wolfe]

George V Crowned bust 1931 - 37

[Brian Wolfe]

George VI Crowned bust INDIAE:IMP 1938 - 48

[Brian Wolfe]

George VI FID:DEF, 1949 - 52

This medal came with its award document which will follow this photo.

[Brian Wolfe]

This is the award document to William James Smith, which belongs to the previous medal.

Sorry about the photo's clairity it has been framed and therefore hard to photograph properly.

[Brian Wolfe]

Elizabeth II Tudor crown BRITT:OMN, 1953 - 54

[Brian Wolfe]

Elizabeth II Tudor crown DEI:GRATIA, 1955 -

[Brian Wolfe]

Before I post the photo of the obverse and reverse a word about the cases. If, like me, you want to add missing cases to your collection beware that the inside of the lids are marked with the Royal Mint logo. That being the case there is a difference in that the cases for King George V and VI have the King's crown above the coat of arms and of course Queen Elizabeth II has the Queen's crown. It may not seen like a big deal but for some of us it is. Besides if you wait the correct type will surface. Following are photos of the two lid markings.

First, the King's crown.

[Brian Wolfe]

Queen's crown.

[Brian Wolfe]

Here is the obverse and reverse of my two George V Imperial Service Medals.

Thanks for looking.

As always if you have anything you would like to add to this post you are most welcomed.

Regards

Brian

[Guest Darrell]

As always if you have anything you would like to add to this post you are most welcomed.

Regards

Brian

Brian,

Nice collection. Another medal that's under appreciated.

I have a couple (and soon to add one that's a GVI issue to an Afghan pair).

Here's my two that I presently own:

1. John Alvey

[Guest Darrell]

Rev:

[Guest Darrell]

Naming:

[Guest Darrell]

Document 1:

[Guest Darrell]

2. Walter James Rosier:

Case Top:

Edited October 26, 2009 by Darrell

[Guest Darrell]

Obv;

[Guest Darrell]

Naming:

[Guest Darrell]

In Case:

[Guest Darrell]

Reverse;

[Hugh]

Here's mine -

Imperial Service Medal (round type - George VI Crowned bust INDIAE:IMP 1938 – 48 ), named (Block) John Joseph Chandler, VF

[Hugh]

And the reverse

[Hugh]

And here's a look at the 1902 version

Imperial Service Medal (Geo V Star type), named (block) to John Tait Williamson, Sorting clerk / telegraphist, Falkirk, in case of issue EF London Gazette Vol. I, Jan – Mar. 1919, p. 1794

R Williams, abt 1985

[Hugh]

The reverse

[Guest Rick Research]

Aside from the "Imperial" designation no longer being accurate... these are STILL being awarded?

With the shrinkage and amalgamation of decorations, would have thought these "class" remnants would have been shed by the P.C. crowd running things? They don't seem to fit the One Size Fits All mentality applied to so much else. Curious that these are still around....