Obverse.—Bust of Lieut.-Col. Sir William Hillary, Bt., Founder of the Institution, by Mr. Allan G. Wyon, F.R.B.S. Double Legend: "Royal National Life-boat Institution. Founded 1824.

Sir William Hillary, Bt." " A. G. Wyon, Sc." Reverse.—Three men in a life-boat, one of whom is in the act of rescuing an exhausted man from the sea. " W. Wyon, Mint." Inscription: " Let not the deep swallow me up." The illustration of the obverse shows the silver medal, the illustration of the reverse the bronze medal.

The colour of the corded silk ribbon is blue..