The Denis Sinor Medal was inaugurated in 1993 by Professor Denis Sinor, specifically to honour scholars in the field of Inner Asian Studies. He donated a sum of money at the initiation of the award and more was bequeathed after his death. The material contains correspondence and administrative documents concerned with the inauguration of the award and further legacy, and for awarding of the medal to scholars of Inner Asian studies.

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.

These records were produced in administrating the finances of the Society. Much of the day-to-day finance records have not been kept. The archival documents include signed accounts, dealings with the Charity Commission and Inland Revenue, administrations of grants, donations and bequests, and Minutes of a Fundraising Committee,

This series contains end of year and signed accounts, asset expenditure, endowment histories and material concerning investments.

In 1993 the Society sold its Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings of Malacca. The money raised by the sale was reinvested and used to help keep the Society solvent. These lists, dating from 2000, identify how some of the money had been used and proposed spending of it. Two copies of each of three lists.

5 Certificates of "Consolidated £3 per Cent. Annuities" to James Alexander, Henry Thomas Colebrooke and George Henry Noehden, 1823, printed and handwritten, 5 pieces + label. These certificates were valued at:

• Four hundred and eighteen pounds and thirteen shillings, dated 29 April 1823
• One hundred and fifty-nine pounds, eleven shillings and seven pence, dated 12 May 1823
• One hundred and forty-nine pounds, thirteen shillings and seven pence, dated 28 May 1823
• Three hundred and eighty-seven pounds, six shillings, dated 18 July 1823
• One hundred and fifty-three pounds, seventeen shillings and four pence, dated 30 September 1823

Letters, receipts and certificates concerning the Society's investments in the period 1881-1889. These are:

• Letters from Herries, Farquhar and Co., concerning attempted investment. Two letters with a memorandum from Steer, Lawford and Cuerton, dated 29 September 1881 - 29 March 1882.
• Receipts and certificates for investments from Herries, Farquhar and Co., 4 pieces, dated 18 March - 4 May 1882.
• Letter from Herries, Farquhar and Co., concerning an investment made on behalf of the Society, 1 piece, dated 22 July 1884.
• Receipts and certificates for investments from Herries, Farquhar and Co., 4 pieces, dated 22- 24 July 1884.
• Letter from Herries, Farquhar and Co., concerning an investment made on behalf of the Society and the consolidation certificate, 2 pieces, dated 18 May 1885.
• Letters from Edward Colebrooke (Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke, 4th Baronet) to T.W. Rhys Davids, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning potential investment and the powers of the trustees. Three letters, dated 6, 8, 18th April [1888].
• Letter from Herries, Farquhar and Co., to enclose the banker's note for the sale of New South Wales Stock. The note and share certificate are with the letter, 3 pieces, dated 27-29 May 1889.

Three items concerned with investment of the Society's assets in 1949. These are:

• Letter from J.H. Lindsay, Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Manager, Lloyds Bank Limited, St James's Street, London, to inform the manager of the resolutions passed at the General Meeting of the Society on 13 May 1943 concerning the sale and re-investment of the Society's securities, 1 piece, typed, dated 17 May 1948.
• Letter from J.H. Lindsay, Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to Mrs M Davies, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to return bank papers, and send an attempt at a circular embodying Richard Winstedt's (President) ideas, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 31 May 1948.
• 'Opinion' by W. A. Hammerton to express his opinion on the objection raised by the Inspector of Taxes, 2 pieces, typed, undated.

Letters and share certificates for transactions in 1959. These are:

• Share certificates and receipts for investments in July 1959, 5 pieces, printed and typed, dated 7-21 July 1959.
• Letter from Macnicoll and Co. to Richard Winstedt, President, Royal Asiatic Society. to enclose the statement of account and a cheque, 1 piece, typed, dated 8 July 1959.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, [Mrs M. Davis] to Messrs Prince Waterhouse and Co. to inform the company of the Council's resolution concerning the Compounded Subscription Account and the transfer of the money into the Staff Pension Fund, 1 piece, typed, dated 27 November 1959.

Correspondence concerning investments of the Society's assets in the 1990s. These are:

• Letter from M & G Securities Limited to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a receipted copy of the application form for share in the M & G Charibond. The copy is with the letter, 2 pieces, typed and photocopied, dated 29 June 1993.
• Correspondence and Contract Notes between COIF Charity Funds and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the investment of the Society's assets in the Fund, 14 pieces, typed, dated 24 July 1995 - 23 October 1998.