Scarce and highly sought after Arctic Medal, first issued in 1857 by the Admiralty for several expeditions, including the crew (posthumously) and searchers for Sir John Franklin's lost expedition of 1845-1848; it was also awarded to all those who had been engaged in Great Britain's Arctic discovery or search expeditions between the years 1818 and 1855. The octagonal silver medal measures 33mm in diameter and is suspended from a white ribbon. Designed by by Leonard Charles Wyon, the obverse features a bust of Queen Victoria facing left, with text, "Victoria Regina"; the reverse shows a three-masted ship amidst icebergs with a sledging party in the foreground, with "For Arctic Discoveries" above and "1818-1855" below. In 1904, the medal was redesigned and renamed the Polar Medal.
