QUOTE(YeOldeCollector @ Mar 16 2008, 07:20 AM)

I deciphered the words RHODI & TEMPORE OBSIDIONIS on the reverse which means the time of the siege of Rhodes, and also realized that IO KENDAL was JO for JOHN and was able to google this :
Sir John Weston, and Sir JOHN KENDALL, who was 'Turcoplerius Rhodi, et Locum Tenens Magni Magistri in Italia, Francia, Anglia et Flandria.' (Rymer xii. 112.) The Turcoplerius was a Lieutenant to the Grand Master. Sir John Kendall was made Prior to the Order of St. John in England in 1491. In 1480 the great siege of Rhodes by the Turks had been successfully resisted. Early in 1481 Mohammed II. was preparing to lead a new expedition in person, but died on May 3. Very likely the news of the abandonment of the expedition had not yet reached England. You can make out some of the date MCCCC??
LINK to THE CELY PAPERS - PART III Letter 54 Click to view attachment Facade of the Inn of England Rhodes this building was originally built in 1483 . Top right arms are a chevron between ten ermine spots, bottom left are fretty on a chief three escallops, bottom right three pallets on a chief three roundles. Look at the bottom left shield it is the one on the reverse of your wonderful medal! Looks genuine to me, definitely not an evasive, could be a copy.