Rare medal reserved for participants of the punitive expedition organized by the Western powers, including Italy, to crush the "Boxer Rebellion" and protect the legations of the various countries in Beijing in 1900.
E 'was established by R.D. 06/23/1901 n. 338 and was destined to the military and to the staff of the Royal Navy and the Royal Army which, framed in a contingent of two battalions, participated with the Body of the International Shipping to the defense of foreign legations in Tien-Tsin by the spring of 1900 until the end of hostilities' in November 1901.
All participants to the enterprise received from their respective countries a commemorative medal is extremely rare today. The bronze medal was struck by the Royal Mint, it was awarded in 2325 copies and this is one of those.
The medal, the work of the engraver Philip Hope, the door on the front of the image of Vittorio Emanuele facing left surrounded by the words "Vittorio Emanuele III KING OF ITALY". Below, under the bust, the manufacturer's mark, the "Royal Mint" of Rome. Relief on the back the words "CHINA" and "1900-1901" surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves. The medal has a diameter of 31.55 mm and a weight (including tape) of 19,58 grams.
The ribbon of the medal and 'the original seven lines, four blue and two yellow alternating and a yellow line more' big in the middle. On the tape is applied to the original clip introduced by Royal Decree 03.15.1908 No. 96 in order to distinguish this medal that granted in 1903 for services rendered in China after the termination of the state of war.