Original Items: Only One Lot of 2 Available. The World War I Victory Medal was a United States service medal designed by Mr. J. E. Fraser of New York City under the direction of the Commission of Fine Arts.

Award of a common allied service medal was recommended by an inter-allied committee in March 1919. Each allied nation would design a 'Victory Medal' for award to their military personnel, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.

The Victory Medal was originally intended to be established by an act of Congress. The bill authorizing the medal never passed, however, thus leaving the military departments to establish it through general orders. The War Department published orders in April 1919, and the Navy in June of the same year.

While issuing medals to members of the armed services by local entities was quite popular following WWI, by the end of the Second World War, the practice of issuing local medals had diminished, probably due to the cost of the medals and the large number of those who served. While reliable references estimate that nearly 1,500 different local medals were issued for service during WWI period, only about 140 different medals were issued for service in WWII.

The Medals In This Lot:
- WWI Victory Medal: The front of the bronze medal features a winged Victory holding a shield and sword on the front. The back of the bronze medal features "The Great War For Civilization" in all capital letters curved along the top of the medal. Curved along the bottom of the back of the medal are six stars, three on either side of the center column of seven staffs wrapped in a cord. The top of the staff has a round ball on top and is winged on the side. The staff is on top of a shield that says "U" on the left side of the staff and "S" on the right side of the staff. On the left side of the staff it lists one World War I Allied country per line: France, Italy, Serbia, Japan, Montenegro, Russia, and Greece. On the right side of the staff the Allied country names read: Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Rumania (spelled with a U instead of an O as it is spelled now), and China.

The medal is in good condition with a functional pin and catch. The ribbon still retains its vibrant colors, but it definitely shows wear, fraying and a minor tear.

- State of Connecticut World War (1917-1918) Service Medal: Following the Armistice, Connecticut, like most states, issued a medal recognizing the war-time service of its residents. Manufactured by the Robbins Co., of Attleboro Massachusetts, the obverse depicts the figure of liberty, holding aloft an olive branch and the torch of liberty, and an American eagle holding arrows in its talons, with the words “World War 1917-1918;” The reverse contains the Seal of the State and the words “State of Connecticut For Service.”

The medal is in good condition with a functional pin and catch. The ribbon still retains its vibrant colors, but it definitely shows wear, fraying and a minor tear. Unfortunately the brooch is almost completely separated from the ribbon.

These lovely medals come more than ready for display.