Obverse: The head of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem and with hair tied in a knot. Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA 1848'. On the truncation: 'W. WYON R.A.' Reverse: Britannia seated on a sea horse, a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. Exergue: 'W. WYON R.A.' Inscription on the edge: 'JAMES ELLIS'. Inscription on the bar: 'NILE'. The medal is suspended by a plain silver clasp from a white ribbon edged with blue. Ellis was a private in the Royal Marines, in HMS 'Minotaur' at the battle of the Nile, 1798.