The Crete Campaign Medal, 1890 (Cedîd Girid Madalyası)

Gold Medal, 23,5 mm., the obverse with the Sultan’s tughra within laurel wreath, the reverse with calligraphic, Arab inscription (“Girid’de ibrâz-I hüsn-I hidmet ve besâlet etmiş olan Asâkir-i şâhâneye mahsûs madalydır), the upper border, pierced for suspension, as usual on Turkish medals.
The medal was instituted as a reward to the participants to the suppression of the uprising started in Crete by the population, whose majority was Christian Orthodox and felt oppressed by the Islamic rules. The governor, Mehmed Shakir Pasha led the troops and the revolt was stopped after a bloodshed that impressed even the Turkish court in Constantinople.
Very rare in gold, and excellent condition. I RR!