dwc_logo

1949 - 1999 - Sri Lanka
Department of Wildlife Conservation

A gold sovereign medal issued in 1999 at the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Sovereign was gifted to the families of those who had lost their lives in the line of Duty over the 50 years.

SPECIFICATIONS
MetalGold 0.916
AlloyAg/Cu 0.??
Diameter22.3 mm
Thickness2.0 mm
Weight8.01 gms
ShapeRound
EdgeMilled
Die-Axis0°
Mintage20 ?
 dwc_50_anniv_au_obverse dwc_50_anniv_au_reverse
Uncataloged
Obverse : Rounder Logo with the central image of crossed (right over left) tusker facing forward looking to its left with trunk swung its right, tail to its left. Name වනජීවී සංරක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව in Sinhala on top வனசிவிரசிப பாதுகாவல பகுதி in Thamil below, and Department of Wildlife Conservation at bottom within Ribbon. Laural wreath on sides.
Reverse : Large 50 above සංවත්සරය (Anniversary) in Sinhala only and 1949-1999 in arc. Name වනජීවී සංරක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව in Sinhala on top -.-.- in Thamil below, and Department of Wildlife Conservation at bottom along periphery within raised rim.

The engraving on Medal is poor, probably since dies were cut for minting a small number of Medals whch were not sold to public.

Uncertain if the Elephant on the Wildlife department logo is an Artists impression, or represents a real elephant known at the time the logo was designed probabaly around 1949. Please E-mail kavanr @ gmail.com if you know. I could not find a matching photograph online. A similer crossed tusker Nadungamuwa Raja was born in 1953 and has left tusk or right. He has since 2005 carried the casket of the Tooth Relic at the famous Kandy Esala Perahera

The medal was scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi The Sovereign was obtained in 2016 March via a dealer who had obtained it at a bank Auction of unreclaimed Pawned Gold items.