WWI Victory and Participation Medals

Zoins · November 12, 2018 12:48AM

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.

This one is mine and fairly rare.

This one is looped and more common, though with the ribbon. It would be great if a TPG would slab this with the ribbon.

dcarr · November 12, 2018 3:17AM

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.

.

.

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 · November 12, 2018 7:41AM

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

THOMAS655 · June 18, 2019 2:06PM

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 · June 18, 2019 2:22PM

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.

Zoins · May 30, 2026 8:45PM

Interesting medal and image. The slab image shows a loop by the TrueView doesn't.

Maywood · May 31, 2026 5:35AM

I would be interested to know the source of the information which details the with/without clasp. I have seen plenty of “unhooked” issues and they all seem to show evidence of the loop having been removed.

BillJones · May 31, 2026 7:25AM

I think that this item is better when it is intact. The ribbon and the bars add a lot to the interest. This piece was designed by James Fraser.

DCW · May 31, 2026 7:42AM

@Zoins is back!
Stick around, buddy. We've missed you.
Here is something I picked up from a recent flea market. I had never seen one of the AEF ID cards

Byers · May 31, 2026 7:51AM

Here is one of the uncancelled dies that I sold to one of the members in this forum.
He is aware of this thread and participates in discussions.

DCW · May 31, 2026 7:56AM

@Byers Wow!

Byers · May 31, 2026 8:43AM

@DCW said:
@Byers Wow!

Thank you!

This is one of the most spectacular uncancelled dies that I have handled.

Zoins · May 31, 2026 10:55AM

Beautiful items @BillJones and Mike @Byers ! The history behind these is really amazing!

Here's what it looked like wearing these in the past!

Samuel Woodfill
Medal of Honor WW1
.
Awarded the Medal of Honor for single-handedly neutralizing three German Machine Gun nests while suffering from the effects of mustard gas. He lead his men back to the American lines with no casualties.
.
General Pershing called Major Woodfil the most outstanding soldier of World War 1.
.
Awarded the Medal of Honor on 9 February 1919. Also the recipient of the French Legion d'honneur in the degree of Chevalier, the French Croix de guerre with bronze plan, the Montenegrin Order of Prince Danilo I in the degree of Knight and the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra among other awards.
.
"So legendary was Woodfill's renown, that almost 11 years after the war ended, a Polish Army delegation presented him two medals. The presentation occurred during the 11th Annual National Convention of the American Legion held in Louisville, Kentucky from 30 September - 3 October 1929." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Woodfill

Source: https://wwvets.org/home/medals-2/

Zoins · May 31, 2026 10:58AM

The importance of this medal can be understood from the fact that it is still being awarded 100 years after the first recipients received theirs.

https://doughboy.org/grace-banker-victory-medal-presentation-ceremony-to-take-place-105-years-after-her-return-from-world-war-1/

Grace Banker Victory Medal Presentation Ceremony to Take Place 105 Years After Her Return from World War 1
.
When the Doughboys returned home after World War 1, all received a Victory Medal for their honorable service. However, US Army Signal Corps Women Telephone Operators, known as the Hello Girls, returned to the news that they were not considered Veterans. They were denied not only their Veteran status but were told they were not eligible for a Victory Medal.
.
Chief Operator Grace Banker, recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal in 1919, was one of the women to learn of this injustice. To confuse matters, in June,1919, Banker received a Victory Medal Service Ribbon with two bronze stars for having served in the St. Mihiel Offensive and Meuse-Argonne Offensive. A memo accompanied the medal stating she was authorized to wear her pin by command of Lieutenant General Liggett. However, she was not awarded the Victory Medal itself!
.
Carolyn Timbie, granddaughter of Grace Banker, has sought to rectify this and pursued the Victory Medal for her grandmother. It was suggested that Carolyn contact her US Representative, Chris Pappas’ office, and speak to a Veterans Constituent Affairs Staff person. The staff was eager to help and promptly followed up. Carolyn completed a privacy release form and was asked to send scans of documents that related to her grandmother’s service. These included her service number, dates as to when Banker’s service began and when she separated from service.
.
The application process was begun in July, 2024. In early September Carolyn was contacted by Rep. Pappas’ office and received the good news that Grace Banker’s Victory Medal was ready!
.
It’s not every day that one seeks a Victory Medal for their grandmother. Grace Banker should have been awarded this medal 105 years ago!
.
Please join us for a Medal Presentation Ceremony at the Hampton American Legion Post 35 at 69 High Street, Hampton, NH at 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, October 3rd. Representative Pappas will present Grace Banker’s Victory Medal, to her granddaughter, Carolyn Timbie, who will accept this on behalf of her grandmother, 105 years after Banker returned home from World War 1.

jfriedm56 · May 31, 2026 11:37AM

No medals found from my grandfather who was honorably discharged from the United States Army in1918. Don’t know when he acquired this 1918, 75MM trench art shell casing.

Zoins · May 31, 2026 11:59AM

@jfriedm56 said:
No medals found from my grandfather who was honorably discharged from the United States Army in1918. Don’t know when he acquired this 1918, 75MM trench art shell casing.

Great service and historical artifacts. You can probably get medals for him if warranted. I found this post online:

daskrieg said:
I applied to have my grandfather's medals replaced. the Victory Medal is not listed on his DD-214 but when I got back the package from the National Archives they included it because he actually served during World War II

jonathanb · May 31, 2026 12:18PM

@Maywood said:
I would be interested to know the source of the information which details the with/without clasp. I have seen plenty of “unhooked” issues and they all seem to show evidence of the loop having been removed.

Unlooped versions exist. I'm attaching one example.

The unlooped ones I've seen have a much redder copper color. I consider the looped versions to be more of a beige-er bronze color.

Most of these are looped. That isn't surprising considering the huge number of people who fought in the war and qualified for the looped medal. I don't know why unlooped versions were produced.

DCW · May 31, 2026 2:43PM

Do you guys remember the one that was struck in gold? Somebody please post a photo if you have it!

Zoins · May 31, 2026 3:06PM

@DCW said:
Do you guys remember the one that was struck in gold? Somebody please post a photo if you have it!

This piece was previously owned by Steve Tanenbaum and the topic of this thread by @keets :

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/989589/interesting-sc-on-ebay-of-all-places

I think there was another thread on this with more pedigree info but cannot find it at the moment.

Here's a photo posted in the linked thread by @nencoin :

Zoins · May 31, 2026 3:13PM

Here's a larger photo in the Steve Tanenbaum pedigree holder from First Class Coins.

Post by First Class Coins
Cert Link: 2688838-001

Raufus · May 31, 2026 3:21PM

Amazing posts, pics and thread. I never knew that these existed. Thanks to all who have shared.

WWI Victory and Participation Medals

Comments

Leave a Comment