Indochina Medals - Cambodia - CM10 Medal of Sisowath I

CM10	MEDAL OF SISOWATH I
	Médaille de Sisowath 1er three (two?) classes - established January 1, 1925 (crowned 1904 – died 1927)
	For:	service to the person of the king
	Design:	round breast badge, gold/silver/bronze, 32mm across, with suspension ribbon
		Obverse:	in center royal arms, and around edge inscription in Khmer script;
		Reverse:	inscription "SISOWATH 1ER ROI DU CAMBODGE" within circle, with half suns with rays at top and bottom, and wreath on left of oak and on right of laurel around the edge;
		Suspension:	a Khmer style royal crown
	Ribbon:	36mm; violet 12mm, yellow 12mm, red 12mm

This second of the reign medals, was made with more sensitivity to Cambodian tradition with the traditional Khmer crown as the suspension to the medal and Khmer script on the obverse. It was awarded in gold, silver, and bronze, with apparently some of the bronze medals being given without a suspension and ribbon and considered thus not to be a class of the medal.

All examples appear made in France. Slight die difference exist.

The medal is occasionally on the market.

10/1	Gold / Médaille de Vermeil / (Meday Meas)
	Ribbon:	with rosette reportedly

10/1 Gold (gilt)

10/1 Gold (light gilding)

with Case

Case

10/2

Silver / Médaille d'Argent / (Meday Prak)

Medal of Sisowatn 1 Silver
10/2 Silver

10/3/A

Bronze / Médaille de Bronze / (Meday Samrit)

Medal of Sisowatn 1 Bronze
10/3 Bronze

Medal of Norodom 1 Copper
10/3 Bronze (copper ?)

10/3/B	Bronze / Médaille de Bronze / (samrit)
	Design:	without crown suspension
	Ribbon:	none

Medals without Suspension:

LeCompte & Gadoury identify gold, silver, and bronze versions without suspension:

Medal of Sisowath 1 Medallions
from LeCompte & Gadoury (Monnaies et Jetons des Colonies Francaises) 2nd ed, 2007, p216
available at http://www.gadoury.com

Variations:

At least three variations are discernable. One with the engraver name FALOT. One without engraver name but with identical medal otherwise, and a uniface suspension. A third type has many minor variations from the other two in the lettering, lettering alighnment, and is sometimes hallmarked..

1.1 with engraver name FALOT	1.2 medal same as FALOT type without name, and with uniface suspension
engraver name FALOT
1.3 without engraver name FALOT and sometimes hallmarks
hallmarks (can anyone identify ?)

Some Variations in the Engraver Name Space

Medal of Sisowath 1 Engraver Name Variations

Variation of 20E BATAILLON INDOCHINOIS 1916 - 1917

There is an interesting bronze medal without a suspension and ribbon which is exactly like this reign medal of Sisowath I except for the reverse inscription which reads "20E BATAILLON INDOCHINOIS 1916 - 1917". This apparently memorializes the Cambodian battalion which served in France during World War I, and was possibly for presentation to the returned soldiers.

LeCompte & Gadoury report a silver version:

Medal of Sisowath 1 Medallions
from LeCompte & Gadoury (Monnaies et Jetons des Colonies Francaises) 2nd ed, 2007, p216
available at http://www.gadoury.com

THE ORDERS AND MEDALS OF THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA