Can Anyone Provide Particulars On This Grand Army Of The Republic Medal?

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Author	Replies: 10 / Views: 2,427
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 10:22 am Any help gratefully received. Obviously a GAR medal, but I find no others like it. The corps badges of the Union armies arrayed on the reverse "Citizens In Peace. In War Soldiers"; GAR seal on the obverse. About 62mm, white metal or pewter maybe. Looks to have been a proud veteran's pocket piece for many years. Report this Post to the Staff

nelson9225 Valued Member 270 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 1:39 pm well I have punched in everything I can and it resembles an unpunched medal. if you look at the 1861 veteran 1866 medals it's almost the same thing only round. I'm lost. sorry Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 2:00 pm I thank you for the reply and the effort. That's pretty much what I had come to also. They seemed to have a preference for more fancy badges and medals than just a simple round one. Also I don't think I've seen any with that reverse design, with all the corps insignia. Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 3:36 pm I don't know that it has any significance at all, but on the reverse there are 38 stars. Colorado became the 38th state on August 1, 1876, and there were 38 states until North Dakota was admitted on November 2, 1889. Perhaps a possible date range? Report this Post to the Staff
MeadowviewCollector Pillar of the Community United States 4409 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 3:56 pm Is there any writing on the edge? -MV Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 4:00 pm Thanks for the reply - no edge lettering. Report this Post to the Staff
nss-52 Moderator United States 54280 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 4:02 pm I can find similar, but not exact. Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here) See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 4:07 pm It seems to me that most GAR medals and badges featured the GAR seal, which is the obverse here, though what I find is usually there is additional filigree metal surrounding the center round seal and additional inscriptions, for annual encampments and so forth. But I can't recall ever seeing a reverse like this one. Then of course there is the star shaped medal, most commonly seen. Report this Post to the Staff
MeadowviewCollector Pillar of the Community United States 4409 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 4:32 pm It may have been put out by an entrepreneur back then as this post on a different forum mentions: Quote: Until 1883, the GAR National Encampments did not have delegates' badges or ribbons. However, they spawned a variety of badges and ribbons for those who attended. At the top of the pile is the delegate's badge, for those sent to the encampment as voting members. In this case, the 1882 national encampment in Baltimore had only 227 delegates attend. Because many GAR members who were not accredited as delegates attended, they wanted something to show that they had been there, so the entrepreneurs of the day started cranking out souvenir badges for purchase. The GAR, seeing another source of funds, quickly joined in and contracted for "official souvenir" badges. Many of the departments, and a fair number of posts, had their own badges or ribbons made up for the national encampments. Most of these are relatively simple, but some got rather gaudy. (post #12 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...r-gar-medal/ ) Surrounding the eagle are Union corp badges they match the images in this Heritage Auction archive scarf http://historical.ha.com/itm/milita...ption-071515 Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 02/29/2016 7:31 pm Thank you again Meadow. Report this Post to the Staff
po_bob Valued Member United States 63 Posts	Posted 03/04/2016 8:36 pm Thanks again for all replies. I've meditated on it some more and it occurs to me that possibly the heart above the seal on the obverse indicates the 24th Army Corps, and the crossed sabers below indicates cavalry. If my earlier supposition about the 38 stars is correct, combined with the information provided by Meadowview above, likely date would be 1876-83. Thanks again! Report this Post to the Staff
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