The Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Companion (with gold)

CATEGORY: Version

SKU: 01.GBR.0110.101.01.000

Estimated market value:

$18000-22000+ USD

Estimated market value:

$18000-22000+ USD

Attributes

Country

Great Britain
Composition

Gold/Diamonds/Pearls/Turquoise/Enamelled
Inscription

Obv: VRI
Size

39x65mm
Version Remarks

The attributes of this version have been taken from the example that belonged to Lady Grant-Duff. The Medal image is sourced from Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, 1884. The book falls within the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. See the following page for more information: https://archive.org/details/generalarmoryofe00burk.

History

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India was established by Queen Victoria in 1878 in commemoration of her ascension as Empress of India. It was considered a companion order to The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India and The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, as it was the only Indian Empire order that was conferred exclusively upon women. The Order has never been officially abolished, but no appointments have been made since India gained independence in 1947.

The Order was conferred in a single class upon wives and female relatives of Indian princes and high ranking Indian officials. It was also conferred upon women of the British Royal Family. Members were entitled to use the post-nominal letters CI.

The obverse features the imperial cypher of Queen Victoria with initials that stand for “Victoria Regina Imperatrix” (Victoria, Queen, Empress).