Colonial Medal The Colonial Medal ( ) was a French decoration created by the " loi de finances " of 26 July 1893 ( article 75 ) to reward " military services in the colonies , resulting from participation in military operations , in a colony or a protectorate " . A decree of 6 June 1962 changed the term " colonial " to " overseas " ( see Overseas Medal ) . Medal . Introduced by the Finance Act of 23 July 1893 , its implementing decree dated 6 March 1894 lists the military operations carried out by France in its colonies or protectorates ( Algeria - Cochin - Gold Coast - Marquesas Islands - Nossi - Bé - New Caledonia - Senegal and Sudan - Society Islands - Tunisia ) . The scope of the decree was therefore a broad retroactive effect , since the first operations considered for the award of the Medal colonial dating back to 1827 , at the very beginning of the conquest of Algeria . Since then , numerous other regulations were made which amend or supplement the award of this medal . The most recent include the decree of June 6 , 1962 which transformed the Médaille Coloniale to Médaille d ' Outre - Mer . The colonial medal is closely linked to the existence of the French colonial empire . Article 4 of the Decree of 1894 establishes the design of the medal . The it is 30mm diameter in silver . On the obverse there is the helmeted effigy of the Republic with " République française " engraved above . On the reverse , a world map occupies the central field , resting on an anchor across a trophy of arms . The ribbon , is white and blue with vertical stripes . Its length can vary this from 35 to 37 mm . The design of the medal is attributed to Capitaine de frégate Saulnier Pinellas , because the original award was for sailors . Its production had the distinction of being performed by the administration of the Paris Mint and a private company that was responsible for manufacturing the socket of the pendant ring leaves and clasps crimping indentations . The sets were to be delivered complete to the ministries of the Navy and War . The ribbon , the skewer assembly and assembly were also part of the supply . The two departments then presented the medals to the recipients , with some delay as they were not always immediately available . The monopoly of the Paris Mint and the sluggishness of its administration thus created a boom for the private market , forcing the administration to allow the manufacture in " parallel " under the set forth specifications . Nevertheless , some marginal versions appeared . In 1913 , the Monnaie de Paris decided to fully bear the manufacture of the Colonial Medal . The second type sees its official medal redrawn and engraved by G . Lindauer . The engraving of Georges Lemaire is recessed so that the first official type , it was relief . The foliage becomes single - sided pendant ring and the sleeve is formed of two truncated cones . For a very short period Hinged clips are rounded instead of being indented . There were many contemporary manufacturers . Campaign Clasps . Campaign clasps which could be attached to medals awarded for service in overseas or colonial possessions include : Recipients . With campaign clasp , if applicable .