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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 746

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., a possible trial piece or specimen in gilt bronze, 25.53g, unnamed as issued, a couple of spots of gilt absent, otherwise good very fine and scarce

As discussed in 'British Gallantry Awards' by Abbott and Tamplin, the Distinguished Service Medal was initially instituted in October 1914 as a gallantry award for Naval petty officers and ratings (and Royal Marines) 'for bravery and resource under fire'. The question of whether this properly applied to hazardous submarine service, or service in the presence of mines or enemy submarines was a something which received much debate at the time, but a decision was ruled to include these circumstances in May and June 1918.

A total of 3 trial pieces in gold were ordered by Sir Frederick Ponsonby from the Royal Mint for presentation to King George V in 1914 (rather than in the typical bronze). From these 3 specimens the King apparently chose his final and preferred design, opting instead for the portrait showing him in Admiral's uniform, rather than the current example being offered here Field Marshal's uniform.

Royal Mint records show that discussions followed in November 1914 requesting that production 'proceed at once with the creation of a new reverse die using the same letter punches as for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and arrangement of lettering' ahead of general production of the D.S.M., which goes some way towards explaining the use of a quite different reverse die for this example, which used different (and slightly more crude) letter punches and has a thicker exergual line.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£70