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The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was instigated in 2000 to replace the Society's Triennial Gold Medal and to be awarded in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scholarship in the field of Asian Studies. A new design for the Medal was sought and this was commissioned from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn. The medal took longstanding symbols of the Society and gave them a modern twist. She suggested:

'The starting point for the design of the medal was an article by John Hansman in the Society's Journal of 1984: ‘The Emblems, Medals and Medallists of The Royal Asiatic Society’. I was very inspired by the Daniells’ design of a caparisoned elephant for a signet, first produced in 1824, which was used to seal letters and documents. A simplified version of this design by Professor Perceval Yetts has become the ‘logo’ of the society, stamped on its letter head and on all its publications, and so it was a particularly appropriate image to use. I depicted the signet impressed into the brass as if it were wax, to act as a metaphor for the medal as a ‘seal of approval’. Unlike most Victorian award medals the lettering is incised, this is so that it will blend in with the name of the recipient, which obviously has to be engraved at a later date. In 1823 the Banyan tree was chosen for the society’s official seal by the Council and it has been depicted on previous medals commissioned by the society. It is a magnificent tree and an apt symbol of the society, growing strong and branching out. The medal was cast (rather than struck) which allows for more depth in modelling and I tried to take advantage of that by depicting the tree as a mature and vigorous plant, still growing strongly.' (Email, see details in the catalogue).

The medal was first awarded to John Gullick in 2001 with subsequent awards being made:
2003 – Professor Edmund Bosworth
2006 – Professor Christopher Shackle
2009 – Professor Sir Christopher Bayly
2014 – Dr Bridget Allchin and Professor David Bivar
2019 - Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand
2023 – Robert Irwin

The material covered by this catalogue consists of correspondence and administrative documents concerning the setting up of the award and the commissioning of the medal, and the individual awards. There are also photographs of some of the award events and a sample of the medal.

In 2006 the Royal Asiatic Society awarded the medal to Professor Christopher Shackle. The archival material consists of:

• Copies of emails between Alison Ohta, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, and Christopher Shackle concerning how he would like his name to appear on the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 - 11 April 2006.
• Copy of an email from Alison Ohta to Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, Medallist, concerning the preparation of the medal. Typed with handwritten annotations, dated 18 April - 30 May 2006.

The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was awarded to Professor Sir Christopher Bayly in 2009. The material concerning this award is:

• Letter from Professor Anthony Stockwell, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Christopher Bayly to inform that Bayly was being offered the award, with a ceremony in 2009 when he will be asked to address the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 February 2008.
• Six digital photographs of Christopher Bayly taken at the award ceremony on 7 May 2009.

The Royal Asiatic Medal was given to both Bridget Allchin and A.D.H. (David) Bivar in 2014. The archival material consists of :

• Publicity poster for the award ceremony for Bridget Allchin held on 13 March 2014 (this is held electronically).
• Four digital photographs of the award ceremony to David Bivar held on 10 October 2014.

The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was awarded to both Carole and Robert Hillenbrand in 2019. However due to the covid-19 pandemic their presentation did not take place until 2022. The material associated with their award is:

• Letters and copies of emails written in support of the nominations of Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand. Six items, typed, dated 2-4 February 2019.
• Publicity poster for the presentation of the awards to Carole and Robert Hillenbrand on 10 November 2022.
• Five digital photographs of the presentation event held on 10 November 2022.

Correspondence and administrative documents concerned with the award of the first Royal Asiatic Society medal to John Gullick in 2001. These are:

• Letter from Giles Tillotson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask for the item 'RAS Award 2001' to be added to the agenda for the Council meeting on 14 June. Handwritten, 1 piece, undated [June 2001].
• 'Nomination for Society's Award: John M. Gullick, Proposed by A.J. Stockwell' - a biography of Gullick with an accompanying list of publications taken from the Journal of the Malay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Part 2, 1999. Typed and photocopy, 6 pieces, dated April 2001.
• Letter from Giles Tillotson to John Gullick to inform him of the Council's decision to award him the new Royal Asiatic Society award which replaces the Society's previous Gold Medal. He asks if Gullick would be willing to come to the Society to receive the medal and give a lecture on a subject of his choice on 10 January 2002. Typed, 1 piece, dated 19 June 2001.
• Letter from John Gullick to Adrian Thomas to acknowledge the receipt of the letter from Giles Tillotson, express his appreciation at the honour, and confirm the date is convenient. He asks for a little time to consider the title of his lecture. Typed with handwritten annotation by Thomas, 1 piece, dated 22 June 2001.
• Letter from John Gullick to Adrian Thomas to confirm the title of his talk as 'An Indian Official in Singapore: Governor Cavenagh (1859-1867)' and also confirm practical details concerning the day. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 July 2001.
• Letter from Adrian Thomas to Joh Gullick to thank for providing the title and to inform him that he will appraise the President, Professor Stockwell, of Gullick's arrangements for the lecture day. Typed, 1 piece, dated 12 July 2001.
• Letter from Anthony Stockwell, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to John Gullick to express his delight at Gullick's acceptance of the award. He asks if Gullick has a preference for a place for dinner after the presentation and informs that the Society will cover the costs of a hire car. He also asks for names of guests. Typed, 1 piece, dated 30 November 2001.
• Letter from John Gullick to Anthony Stockwell to cover the queries about transport, dinner and guests. Typed, 1 piece, dated 3 December 2001.
• Letter from Anthony Stockwell to John Gullick to confirm the Society will book a taxi for him to get home and to give his telephone numbers in case Gullick needs to contact. Typed, 1 piece, dated 14 December 2001.
• Letter from John Gullick to Anthony Stockwell to thank him for the previous evening's occasion and his receipt of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 11 January 2002.
• Letter from John Gullick to Adrian Thomas concerning the emails of Mr J Kavanagh about Gullick's talk. Typed with handwritten postscript, 1 piece, dated 10 June 2002.
• Letter from Andrew McNad to Adrian Thomas asking whether he would forward a letter to Gullick concerning research about Malay history as he had been unable to attend the award ceremony. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 20 December 2002.
• Copy of a letter from John Gullick to Hazel Greenberg, The American Forum of General Education, regarding using Gullick's material in the Forum's curriculum guide. There is also a handwritten postscript to Adrian Thomas to thank him for his help. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 June 2003.

The Royal Asiatic Society Medal was awarded to Edmund Bosworth in 2003. There is a small amount of correspondence concerned with his award.

• Copy of an email from Rachel Ward, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to Anthony Stockwell, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Committee chosen to select the next recipient of the award were unanimous in their selection of Clifford Edmund Bosworth. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 April 2003.
• Copy of an email from Duncan Haldane to Rachel Ward and Anthony Stockwell to give contact details for Bosworth. Typed, 1 piece, dated 11 April 2003.
• Letter from Anthony Stockwell to Clifford Edmund Bosworth to inform him of the Council's wishes to award him the Society's medal. He asks if Bosworth would be willing to give a lecture during the 2003-04 academic session. Typed, 1 piece, dated 15 April 2003.
• Copy of emails between Anthony Stockwell and Edmund Bosworth concerning his acceptance of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 17 April 2003.
• Copy of an email from Anthony Stockwell to Rachel Ward to inform of Bosworth's acceptance and give his contact details. Typed, 1 piece, dated 17 April 2003.

Correspondence and administrative documents concerned with the inauguration and commissioning of the medal. These are:

• 'Gold Medals - Memorandum to House and Events Committee, for 11 May 2000', memorandum from Giles Tillotson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, setting out his suggestion for the procedure for awarding the new medal. Typed, 1 piece, undated.
• Letter from Farrokh Vajifdar to Giles Tillotson to explain his thoughts regarding the new medal. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 11 February 2000.
• Letter from Dr G.S.P. Freeman-Grenville to Giles Tillotson to thank for his letter and the memorandum and to express his opinion regarding the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 14 February 2000.
• Copy of an email from Luke Syson, British Museum, to Rachel Ward, Council Member, Royal Asiatic Society, to provide a list of potential medallists to create the new medal for the Society, Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 May 2000.
• 'Proposed Procedure for the new Royal Asiatic Society Award (replacing the former Gold Medal)' - memorandum from Giles Tillotson concerning the procedure for selection for recipients for the new medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated November 2000.
• Copy of an email from Rachel Ward to Giles Tillotson to give details of approximate costing for the medal and her preferences for its style. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 February 2001.
• Copy of an email from Giles Tillotson to Rachel Ward to thank her for her help and suggest she writes a memorandum for the next House and Events Committee meeting giving the details of the costings. Typed, 1 piece, dated 14 February 2001.
• Copy of an letter from Rachel Ward to Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, Medallist, to express the Society's interest in possibly commissioning the design of a Medal from her. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 February 2001.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to thank her for the invitation to submit her portfolio. She provides provisional costings and enclose a portfolio catalogue and cards. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 April 2001. The portfolio and catalogue are with the letter. These are printed and computer printed.
• 'Medal for the Royal Asiatic Society Award' - memorandum from Rachel Ward for the Events and House Committee concerning possible medallists and their costs. Typed, 1 piece, dated 27 April 2001. (On the reverse of this is a further copy of Rachel Ward's letter to Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, dated 16 February 2001.)
• Letter from Rachel Ward to Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to ask for drawings ready for the next committee meeting on 27 September 2001. She also encloses the Society's lecture programme and gives some suggestions re the design of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 May 2001.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to send designs for the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 23 September 2001. With the letter are 10 sheets of designs.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to send a design in progress and ask for comments. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 November 2001.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to send a plaster model ready for casting. Typed with handwritten annotation by Rachel Ward, 1 piece, dated 25 November 2001.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to send an invoice for her work and to inform that the Medal and Coins Department at the British Museum is interested in purchasing a copy. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 January 2002.
• Copy of an email from Giles Tillotson to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to suggest a timetable regarding the procedure for the award of the new medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 18 February 2002.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to detail the results of her investigations into foundries and to give costs for production of 6 medals. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 March 2002.
• Copies of emails between Rachel Ward and Philip Attwood, British Museum, concerning the possible purchase of a medal by the museum. Typed, 1 piece, dated 13 May 2002.
• Copies of emails between Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, Rachel Ward and Adrian Thomas regarding payment for the medals. Typed, 1 piece, dated 13 and 19 December 2002.
• 'Commissioning a medal: celebration and reward' - copy of an article from British Arts Medal which features the new Royal Asiatic Society medal. Photocopy, 2 pieces, dated 2002.
• Letter from Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to Rachel Ward to enclose one bronze cast of the medal and invoice for five. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 November 2003. The invoice is with the letter. Handwritten, 2 pieces, dated 5 November and as paid 11 November 2003.
• Copy of an email from Rachel Ward to Alison Ohta, Director, Royal Asiatic Society to provide a description of the Royal Asiatic Society Medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 11 December 2003.

There is also a bronze cast of the Medal within a presentation case.

Robert Irwin was initially nominated for the Society's Richard Burton Medal but it was decided to honour him with the Royal Asiatic Society Medal in 2023, the Society's bicentenary year. The archival material associated with this award is:

• Letters in support of the nomination of Robert Irwin, typed, 4 pieces, dated 22 September 2021.
• Publicity poster for the award of the medal and Irwin's lecture Tales from the Mamluk Crypt: Predecessors of Modern Horror, held on 4 May 2023.
• Six photographs from the award presentation, 4 May 2023.