johnnymac

Bill 99% of what you might see as a type-1 is a modern reproduction. The first thing I would check for a type-1 is the the thickness which is 3mm+ with OD of 36mm. Do not look at color or ribbon as both can be and will be aged. The type-1 is rare! Regards, Jim M. (Johnnymac)

Gunner 1 Thanks for all your hard work, I found it very interesting, Regards, Jim M.

Tim, I want to thank you for all your hard work. "And" I want to say its been nice to have written and to have worked with you. My Best Regards, Jim M. (Johnnymac)

Hi I could use a little help. I need a high resolution jpeg of any of Geo W. Studley catalogs from 1930's to the 1960's. Just a jpeg of the cover of the catalog, the page with the date of the catalog and the page that shows the full size Victory medal on it. Thanks, please send all emailed jpegs to jmcpm45@hotmail.com Jim

I just received this group which I had won on ebay. But I find it strange that the owner had used an unofficial type-3 Belgium/France Victory Medal for his grouping.

Last, note this photo and the 5 red circles. They show that the tips are round on the medal in question on the left. Whereas the other medal's tips are more square. I feel that these two medals are official but the ones is as I said in the opening is a re-issue. Any thoughts, Jim M.

on reverse I also looked a little closer to see if I could find more. On my second illustration I superimposed and did a 50% transparence. As you can see the two medals are on top each other and you can also see by looking at the red ring that they are centered. The left side matches up but the right side does not (note right side looks like a little blurred or out of alignment). Adding this that the ring suspension are two different lengths.

To All, The bottom medal is an official Japanese issue. So, is the top medal a re-issued medal or is it just a very good reproduction? What is noticeable at first is the color differences between the two medals. This may be explained away by the use of different cameras. The top example was sent to me by a friend and I noted that there is a slight bruising of the metal on the left side of the face on the top figure in the nose area. But upon a closer look, you do find other slight differences, which are the hair shape, the mustache, the chin, the width and shape of the mouth, the necklace, the dropped right shoulder and the different shaped thumb (top figure's thumb bends up the other figure's thumb bends down).

First thing that I notice is the ribbon is wrong and you may correct that it is a UK modern made. To me the reverse side does not look right? is the medal a 35mm or 36mm?

IMO (In my opinion) on post #4 The large red cross might just be a simple case of a Veteran's intervention. It may be a doctor, nurse or some caregiver who was awarded the Belgium Victory medal and just added his/her medical pin to it. We see this type of thing a lot. Regards, Jim M.

Hello Tim I was thinking, how about a BUY, SELL or TRADE section, in this VM space, with rules that only VM items be allowed and if you add another item with the VM, that posting will be removed.

Hi Gordon, I do not believe your silver star is a, "just a smaller version of the wounded-killed lapel pin". I have never found a smaller version of this pin but I feel seeing yours this way, would make one believe there was one. So let me say what I think you may have. illustrations: 1. My lapel pin is for wounded-killed in service. 2. American legion adopted the Victory Medal lapel pin as their center piece, in 1919. 3. Yours silver star, you will note has a slight edge around the outer ring as if something might fit around it. 4. The fourth example seems as it might fit with yours since it is missing the center piece. Regards, Jim M.

To All, Cc - Gordon & Tim There was not special medal awarded for military personnel wounded or killed during the First World War for U.S. service men. However there was a lapel pin given out, silver for a wound or death and the bronze for service during the war. In 1932 when the Purple Heart was created all the persons who had been wounded and family members of the next to kin who had been killed, could apply for the Purple Heart with proper documentation. Regards, Jim M.

Do you see any other signs of something wrong with this medal? What do you think about the thickness of the planchet being only 2.5 MM? Shouldn't it be 3 MM? Tim , are not the type-1, 3mm? to me this one looks like a type-2! Jim

I do not believe the knob just split over time, due to some type of stress and here is why. I noted in your photo that there is a hair line mark on the ring, that is straight and is the same length as the cut in the suspension. If it were to be moved a little to the left and downward it would line up with your cut. This cut mark on the ring is between the red lines in the black & white photo, and is very plain to see in your color photo. This would tell me that something sharp had made that cut in the knob . Jim M.

Dickey was part of the 28th Division, 53d Field Artillery Brigade: 107th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm) 108th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm) 109th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm) 103d Trench Mortar Battery Jim M.

Here is another medal from one of the many counties in the State of New York. This design was reused many times by other interested counties. This medal has a name bar, but owner did not have the money or time to have engraved. It was made for the Hubert Zimmer Co. by the Robbins Co., Attleboro, Mass. Enjoy Jim M.

This medal is numbered at the top just below the suspension ring. Enjoy, Jim M.

Thanks for sharing your service medal from the state of Connecticut . It is also good to get the Manufacture's name as you have in the box. Jim M.

Tim you are right, that is why you see so many of the P.N.G. type for sale, in mint condition, with box and the ribbon bar. Regards, Jim

To All, Both medals are for members the of U.S. Army's, 28th Division which was made up from just the Pennsylvania National Guard units. And both medals were made by: J.K. Davison's & Sons Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Medal (1) - Was for federal service with the A.E.F. in France during WWI. (note the battle star) Medal (2) - Was for being in the Pennsylvania National Guards, but not being overseas in France, during the War. Their Division shoulder patch was the red Pennsylvania "Keystone", also known as a "Bucket of Blood Division".. Regards, Jim

Hello Bill, That was a nice site thanks for posting Jim

Good morning Herman, and thanks for the postings. On the Col. Barney (U.S.M 37) victory medal , I have to say how lucky are you to have a numbered one, adding do you know why he might have gotten number medal. I have a question, is that a stamp of the letter "S" under the letter "M", or is that just light playing tricks on us? The reason I ask is, I do see the "7" has been double hit? Last, is the suspension of this medal a type 1 with a thicker planchet, or type 2 with the standard thickness.. Thanks, Jim

Tim, I too believe this medal to be a very early version, maybe as early as the 1920' or 30's. Jim

Hello to all, Herman I to would like to also welcome you. But, I do not agree with Tim & Rob that this is an official Cuban Victory Medal. There are many differences between your medal and the official medal. The photo I posted is the official Cuban Victory medal. Your medal a) The letter "F" in the word "FRANCIA" is over the letter "G" in the word "INGLATERRA", where-as on the Official medal the letter "F" is over the letter "N". b) There are two upside down "W" used in place ofthe letter "M" in the words "RUMANIA & MONTENEGRO". c) Note the word "GRECIA" and how it bows upward on the last two letters "IA". But not so on the official medal. d) Your medal, in its shield there are almost twice as many lines behind the key and the palm tree. Must less on the official medal. e) The plant stem is between the "RU" in the word "RUSIA", on the official it is clearly under the letter "U". f) The other plant stem is under "N" in the word "CHINA", on the official it is clearly under the letter "I". g) Just check the word "BELGICA" on your medal, note the letter "I" and see how its filled in. You see that on sand castings not on a metal striking. Also check some of the other letters for this same fill. h) On your Cuban, almost all of the countries names are touching the shield either with the ending letter or the first letter in its name. On the official medal there is spacing between the names and the shield in all but Montenegro. There many more differences, in the helmet, the leafs and the olives placement. If you have a Alexander Laslo's book go to page 22, figure19 and you decide, put a glass to his photo, then ask, is you medal like the one in the book, or is the one I just posted like the one in the book. Both, yours and the official medal have the Chobillon hallmarks. Remember they also made some"known" unofficial medals using this same stamping. (see) France unofficial type-1 by the same designer Charlie (Chobillon hallmark and the word bronze). I believe this would class as an early repro. Hello Rob, you posted on 30 Sept 2009, post # 119 in this tread, a gild Cuban Identical to the one I am posting now. Regards, Jim