Culloden, which was fought on April 16, 1746, was the next event to call for a special issue of medals. To commemorate the Young Pretender's rout, oval medals in gold and silver were struck. It is presumed that the gold pieces were awarded to leaders of the highest rank, whilst the silver ones went to those of lesser importance. It is certain, however, that no awards were made to the common soldiers. The design was remarkably bold and imposing; the obverse bore a simple profile of the Duke of Cumberland with short curly hair and the word "Cumberland," whilst the reverse showed an unclothed full-length figure of Apollo, looking to the left. The inscription "Actum est ilicet perut" and, also in Latin, "Battle of Culloden, April 16th, 1746," appeared on the reverse. This medal was one of the first to be issued with a definitely prescribed pattern for the ribbon. The warrant effecting its issue stated that "it was to be worn round the necks of officers by means of a crimson ribbon having a narrow green border." The medal is exceedingly rare, but of the few copies known to exist one, fortunately, may be seen among the treasures of the British Museum, and another in the Royal United Service Museum. * * * * * The history of British and Indian medals is so interwoven that it is impossible to study the first without knowing something of the latter. It may even be claimed that much which affected the fashioning and awarding of late eighteenth-century decorations given by the authorities at Bombay has since been copied by our authorities at home. The most obvious point bearing on this contention deals with the shape of the medals. Before the Indian examples, all of which were circular, were struck, the British patterns invariably appeared oval in form, whilst most of the subsequent issues have been circular. Again, the allegorical designs of patriotic themes, which our most recent medals bear, had their early origin in the sepoy tableaux which decorated the reverse of the Indian medals. The reverse side of British medals before the Indian specimens were issued usually depicted the features of a royal personage, a coat of arms, or, perhaps, a sailing vessel. But the greatest influencing factor of the Indian medals was the method of granting them. Every soldier from the highest general down to the lowest fighter received an award. In England quite a different custom prevailed. With the single exception of the Dunbar medal, no English soldier was ever awarded a royal medal until Waterloo, unless his conduct had been unusually brave and he had merited some special recognition. The controversy which raged round Wellington's campaigns as to whether the ordinary men as a class should or should not receive decorations was finally settled by remembering the sepoys of India. If it were good for these soldiers to receive them, then our British fighting men must have them as well. Such was the popular opinion which prevailed.