Medal commemorates the British Victory in the first Opium War in 1842.

Original design depicted a crowned British Lion standing over a defeated Chinese Dragon.

Alternative version as presented here and also designed by William Wyon, with a less controversial arrangement of a trophy of arms, was issued.

The first Opium War marks an important era - the ceding of territories in the Chinese Qing Empire to Britain, then other nations. The treaty marked the ceding of Hong Kong Island to Great Britain.