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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 1154

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R., 'Crowned Head' 2nd type, unnamed as issued, extremely fine

According to Jim Routledge in an article published in the December 2002 O.M.R.S. journal, a total of 24 crowned head D.F.M.'s were issued by the Royal Mint to the Air Ministry, in addition to an unnamed specimen which had been forwarded for examination on 18 March 1929. He goes on to note:

'Rather surprisingly, the National Museum of Scotland received two unnamed specimens (7 April 1933 and 17 June 1933) from the Air Ministry. No other institution appears to have been so favoured.'

Routledge goes on to list the names of 22 airmen eligible for the Medal, excluding L.A.C. Ellis, who earned a Bar to his D.F.M. (London Gazette 8 September 1933, refers), which would account for the two unnamed specimens which were sent to Scotland. It is thus possible that this example may be the third unnamed medal which was never issued. Regarding the first specimen medal, Routledge notes:

'there is no record of its return to the mint,' and 'it does not appear to have been issued'.

Sold with copied O.M.R.S. article which offers the full names, service numbers, London Gazette dates and theatres of operations of the 22 recipients.


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Sold for
£950

Starting price
£320