United States Marine Corps China Relief Expedition Medal (1900–1901), an American military campaign medal awarded to eligible United States Marine Corps personnel who served during the China Relief Expedition associated with the Boxer Rebellion. The expedition involved an international force deployed to China in 1900 to relieve besieged foreign legations in Peking (Beijing) and protect foreign nationals during the uprising. The medal recognised qualifying service ashore in China between 24 May 1900 and 27 May 1901, as well as service aboard designated United States Navy vessels supporting the operation. The Marine Corps version was authorised in 1908 and is an early example of American expeditionary campaign insignia.
The medal features a Chinese gateway and dragon motif on the obverse, surrounded by the inscription “CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION” and the date “1900”. The reverse depicts an eagle above a trophy of an anchor, with the inscription “UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS” and the words “FOR SERVICE”. The original ribbon used yellow with narrow black stripes at the edges; these colours were later changed to yellow with blue edging. The first 400 Navy medals bore the date 1901, while subsequent examples used the date 1900 following a change of die. This decoration is of interest to collectors of United States Marine Corps medals, Boxer Rebellion memorabilia and early twentieth-century American military awards.
Condition
As new
