A SKY BLUE ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA GOLD MEDAL TYPE FIRST CLASS
Collectibles9 Mar - 10 Mar, 2017
Description:
The Order of British India was an order of merit which was presented by the British East India Company. It was established on 17 April 1837 and was awarded to members of the British Indian Army for loyal and honourable service. After the Mutiny of 1857- 1858 got thwarted; the damaged East India Company and its Presidency Armies in British India came under the administrative authority of the British Empire. Consequently, the Order of British India was included as a part of the British honour system in the years 1859. The medal was originally introduced with three classes namely first, second and third. It was reduced to two classes when the Victoria Cross replaced the first class medal and was later reduced to a singular class in 1944. The recipients of the Medal of the first class were allowed to utilise the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader) and the recipients of second class were permitted to use the title Bahadur (hero). The receivers of both classes of medals also adopted the post-nominal letters ‘OBI’. A recipient technically needed to be in possession of the lower class before being awarded a higher class, although occasionally recipients were awarded the higher class if they performed more than one act of gallantry. The recipients of the order received increased pay and pension allowances and were very highly regarded. The order of merit was disused after the partition of India and the birth of the Republic of India in the year 1947.:
Order of British India, First Class Type 2, neck badge, Gold and enamel, 37. 50g. In centre, an enamelled medallion design composed of lion on sky blue background, legend ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA around on sky blue background. The medallion is enclosed in a laurel wreath which is set in an eight-pointed star-burst.:
Extremely Fine, Extremely Rare.:
Estimate
₹ 1,50,000 - ₹ 2,00,000
Sold for
₹ 1,83,678Inclusive of margin
