Galathea Medal

The Galathea Medal is awarded by the Royal Danish Geographical Society “for geographical surveys and research, primarily outside the Polar regions.” The Royal Danish Geographical Society’s Galathea Medal in silver was established together with the Society’s Egede Medal at the general meeting on 28 April 1916.

Designs and estimates for the medal were presented and approved at a council meeting on 2 December of that year, and the board was authorized to have the medal made. However, owing to the First World War and the resulting shortage of materials for dies, the medal was not ready until 1919. The medal was modeled by Royal Court Engraver S. Lindahl, the costs were borne by the Hjerl Foundation, and it was made at Royal Court Jeweler August Thomsen’s.