1843 British East India Company Gwalior Star Medal for the Battle of Punniar to the 9th Lancers

The heavy solid bronze star has an affixed silver star on the obverse with the designation of 'PUNNIAR / 19th DEC / 1843', with the silver star showing wear. The reverse of the medal is finely hand engraved 'Private Saml. Shears H.M. 9th Lancers'. The medal was awardedby the British East India Company to the soldiers who participated in the 1843 Gwalior campaign.There were two versions of the medal, for the two battles fought on the same day: Maharajpoor and Punniar. An individual could only receive oneof the medals, which weremade from bronze of guns captured during the campaign.The medals were originally manufactured with a clip or hooks on the reverse to be worn as a breast star, but most recipients later fitted them with a ring or bar and ribbon for standard wear, as was done by the recipient of this medal. The medal is suspended from a watered ribbon which shows age but which is intact. Overall very good condition.