Tim B

:jumping: Wow, excellent information Gunner! I have always wanted to know more details on distingushing between the Type 1 & 2 medals and this really explains it! Thank you! Tim

I need some quick assistance in verifying a medal that I received today. I have several WWII campaign medals from various manufacturers and have noticed the US Mint produced examples have a slightly thicker planchet when compared to other makers. Today, I received a nice looking American Campaign Medal in the US Mint issued box and the medal planchet is thinner than I expected and thinner when compared to the US Mint Asiatic-Pacific and EAME medals I have already. The suspension ribbon is shorter as I would expect on the Mint produced medals, but I need to know if the medal planchet is correct here. Do all US Mint WW2 Campaign Medals have a thicker planchet? IF anyone has one available, can you either take a measurement of the thinkness or possibly post a comparison PIC of one next to another manufacturer like the example PIC below? Thank you, Tim Here's a comparison of a Mint produced vs Medallic Art Company (Asiatic-Pacific) example and you can see the difference in the planchet.

Very nice! In my past travels throughout the Philippines, and looking though various shops, etc. for old silver coins and such, I have never seen one for sale or displayed anywhere. Now, I wish I had looked harder. Honestly though, I never knew much about this version until I picked up Laslo's reference. Even then, until I seen this example listed recently on eBay, I had my doubts on these. Same can be said about the Thai version, but my younger mind was always on other things. Tim

This is "pinned" thread so it doesn't get lost or bumped down to another page. As we start out, we can use this thread for general type topics. If you have a recommendation or idea, want to see something specific, or don't like something, post it here. Keep in mind, this is relating to this specific forum on the Inter-Allied Victory Medals of the Great War only . Bottom line, let make this new forum work for all of us. Tim :cheers:

As we start out, we can use this thread for a general discussion and comparison in the variations in ribbons used within specific countries or even between the different countries. This should help collectors determine if an item they are looking at has an original period ribbon and if it is the correct pattern ribbon for that particular medal. Tim

As we start out as a catch-all for items like Commemoratives, Anniversary, Fantasy items or whatever else. Tim :cheers:

These really aren't under the scope of the "Inter-Allied Victory Medals" but, many U.S. states, citys, and local townships, in addition to veteran organizations issued victory medals to their returning soldiers. They are a legit part of the history and a specific area for collectors. So, as we start out, we can use this thread for the these items. Tim :cheers:

As we start out, we can use this thread for Thai (Siamese) Victory Medals, variations in medals/ribbons, etc. Tim :cheers:

Thought I would start by adding this file PIC from a recent eBay listing. Appears to have had the suspension ribbon wire or knob broken off. Tim

As we start out, we can use this thread for Philippine Victory Medals, variations in medals/ribbons, etc. I wasn't going to add this one but, Laslo does discuss this variety, and they did exist. I'm hoping to see collectors that may have these in their collections come forward with some discussion. Tim :cheers:

As we start out, we can use this thread for Brazilian Victory Medals, award documents, variations in medals/ribbons, etc. I see there are a couple of existing threads already. These will be moved into this thread. Tim :cheers:

As we start out, we can use this thread for Cuban Victory Medals, types, variations in medals/ribbons, etc. Tim :cheers:

As we start out, we can use this thread for Belgian Victory Medals, types, award documents, variations in medals/ribbons, etc. Tim :cheers:

Hi Bill, I will start adding topics today, sort of based on what my sections had called out in my initial proposal, and we just post into those. Example: I'll add a Japaneses thread and everyones posts their Japanese Vic's/questions into that specific thread. I see Lambert has already started a thread on the Brazilain Vic, so we can use that and add to it. Wish these could have been similar to a folder where we could further separate the discussions within countries, but for now thats about the most we can hope for. Of course, nothing to say if someone just wants to start a separate thread on anything, you are more than welcome to do just that. Tim

Hi Bill, Excellent! Glad to see others are starting to find it okay. I am talking to Nick and the changes are in progress as we speak. If you noticed, I cut & pasted a topic on clasp stars that was a topic in the old thread. Simply cut & pasted what I needed to reference and then started a new, specific thread to get more discussion going. Nick has mentioned that he might try to move some of the older thread pages into individual topics, but it might be just as easy to reference the old thread information and start a new thread from scatch as we need to discuss things. We'll see what works for everyone. We could simply link to the pages in question as well. For now, Nick doesn't want to have separate sub-forums like what I suggested a few pages back and prefers to let this change settle first and see how it goes. So, other than maybe changing the forum icon to a VIC or something, this change is almost complete. I recommended the Special Interest Section because the Victory Medal has such an international flavor and is, for many, of special interest. So, hope that didn' bother anyone adding the forum here. I would like to encourage ALL members to throw some thoughts out on what you would eventually like to see and perhaps those additions will happen. This is OUR forum, so let's make it work for all of us. Cheers and again many thanks to Nick! Tim

Just a quick update/note here. I gave my pitch to Nick about starting a dedicated forum to these Vic's and to move the new forum to either the Military History or Special Interest Sections and see we are in process of making this change. Many thanks Nick! Tim

I know these "unit of issues" sometimes listed items with different stock numbers based on what came in the box (i/e: the medal with or without the service ribbon or, in earlier medal examples, a lapel device. I think what we are seeing here is a case where, in November 1955, the individual components were not listed, but in December they had to be individually listed on the box of issue. The manufacturer's contract number was slightly different as well (7902 vs 7903). When I originally seen the combination I showed in post #35, I assumed the "E" indicated the English version of the UN medal. Tim :cheers:

Hello Demir, In regards to the file PIC I posted in post #35 showing the UN style medal with Medallic Art Company box, and your US Korean Service Medal in post #37: Looking at this issue closer, I think you are correct and I missed and obvious point with the box. The Medallic Art Company had another label, dated only one month later, with different stock number and nomenclature for their Korean Service Medal as shown below. Tim

Thanks to another collector this is confirmed; it is the marking for the Williams & Anderson Co. Tim

Thanks to another collector, I confirmed this diamond mark does in fact belong to the Williams & Anderson Co. Tim

Unfortunately, these slot-brooches cannot be manufacturer identified, unless there is a certain die trait to the medal that changed from era to era. I do not know if the Purple Heart Medal "planchet" appears different between old and new awards, perhaps someone else can show that if it exists. Here's another reason I think the Purple Heart shown at the beginning of this thread is pre-Vietnam. Below is a composite PIC of three medals; the Vietnam Service Medal came sealed in a box marked 12/69 and the DSA number also shows 1969. The Army Commendation Medal came in a marked carton, dated 5/69 and shows a DSA number for 1969. The Purple Heart was purchased by me back in the mid-60's. Note, all show this same manufacturer's diamond mark, which would indicate to me, that all items are circa 1960's. The only 100% sure way would be to correctly ID the manufacturer and then check the contract dates. Tim

I suppose the Purple Heart could be Vietnam era, but it would be very early Vietnam IMO. Slot-brooches were used roughly from 1920 to the early 1960's. I know when the Air Force first created the AF Good Conduct Medal in June 1963, they were still using the slot-brooch for those but, then changed shortly thereafter. Tim

Hi Gunner, No, the "GI" indicates "government inspected" and follows the manufacturer's stamp. This was added to the brooch ID sometime in the 1960's. A "Graco" product would read: GRACO - GI. It should be noted that by the mid-90's, this "GI" was discontinued and medals were marked with the manufacturer's Institute of Heraldry code. An example would be G27 (GRACO). Tim

I think once you get it in and check the brooch, you'll see this diamond mark. I know there were more than one manufacturer that used a diamond in their design but still do not know exactly what maker this one belongs to. Tim

Another shot, though poor, of the 40-set box: