WWI Victory and Participation Medals

Zoins

Does anyone collect WWI Victory and Participation Medals? I find them fascinating because of the allegorical designs, the attribution to individual participants, and the large variety of designs issued by countries, states and localities.

dcarr

This is my post from another thread (re-posting since it seems to fit well here).

Here are a few exonumia items related to WW1 that I've randomly collected.

I bought this on a whim a few years ago. It is a heavy embossed plaque which is the ultimate WW1 medallic design tour-de-force showing all aspects of the United States participation in the war. The top banner shows unit insignias including Engineers, Army, Navy, Tank Corps, and medic. Hanging from the left is the US Navy Cross and on the opposite right end is the US Medal of Honor. The eagle above the central arch is very similar to that seen on the 1904 Louisiana Purchase award medals. In the center is an allegorical figure representing America, with the Statue of Liberty in the background. This plaque was produced in Paris, possibly for presentation to an individual American, an American unit, or America in general. The blank area below the center arch was presumably for personalized engraving although this specimen remains blank. Including the wood mount, it measures 15 inches by 22 inches. This is the only one like it that I have seen.

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Here are four die varieties for so-called dollar HK-892, all with "1917" date. Upper left, upper right, and lower right all share the same reverse die (upper left is late die state with cracks through the flagpole tips). The lower left reverse has flagpoles which extend trough the word "TRUST". The upper left and lower left share the same obverse die. The contours of the ground that the soldier is kneeling on have differences between the upper right, lower right, and left specimens.

Most collectors would probably consider these next two to be examples of HK-892. But these have a "1918" date unlike those shown above, and the 1918 date isn't even mentioned in any so-called dollar references. Also, these two specimens have differences in both the obverse and reverse dies. The upper piece has the rifle pointing at the "R" of ARMY. The lower one has the rifle pointing at the "A". The upper reverse has 8 stars between the flagpole and Eagle's wing. The lower one has only 7 in that location.

This next one seems to be quite rare as I've never any other example. It has suitable subject matter and diameter to qualify as an unlisted so-called dollar. It was manufactured as a medal or token without any loop or hole for suspension.

Here is another plaque that is heavy cast bronze in high relief, 8 inches square and about 3/4 inch thick at the edge. I have seen a second example of this plaque. The small incuse marking states "COPYRIGHTED 1918 BY R.W. BOCK".

Here is HK-900a:

ricko

Those are very impressive items.... Especially that large plaque.... Cheers, RickO

THOMAS655

THIS MEDAL WAS LOOPED AND APPARENTLY WORN BY A WORLD WAR 1 VETERAN AT SOME POINT DUE TO THE WEAR. THERE ARE HIGHER GRADED EXAMPLES OF THIS, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY INTERESTING SINCE IT WAS PROBABLY PROUDLY WORN BY A WW1 VETERAN!! THERE ARE ONLY (5) OF THIS TYPE LISTED IN THE NGC CENSUS WITH LOOPS. THIS MEDAL WAS APPARENTLY AWARDED TO A SOLDIER WHO SERVED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN BATTLE PER BELOW FROM THE SO-CALLED DOLLAR BOOK:

The medal without clasps was distributed to troops who served in the U.S. only; medal with single clasp, to those who served overseas but not in battle; medal with more than one clasp, to men who participated in more than one major operation. While issue obviously was large, pieces came with loop and ribbon. Unlooped medals are quite rare.

I THANK THIS SOLDIER WHOEVER HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR 1.

THOMAS655

Attached are pictures of my American Saviors of LIberty So-Called dollar HK-903, and my French version Victory of Right So-Called dollar HK-903A. Both of these are Top Pops in the NGC census to date.