Spanish American War and Philippine Campaign Medals

After looking at last week’s post and what I was going to do this week, I decided to re-pair the medals I posted with two new ones that seemed to make more sense together. Sorry for the repetition, and thanks for the loves and comments everyone made on last week’s post before I deleted it.

The US military did not have a tradition of general issue of campaign medals until after the start of the 20th Century. In January 1905, War Department General Orders stated ''by authority of the President, campaign badges with ribbons will be issued as articles of the uniform to officers and enlisted men in the service to commemorate services which have been or shall hereafter be rendered in campaigns''. The Army War with Spain and Philippine Campaign Medals were two of the campaign medals authorized in January 1905. Both medals were designed by Francis Millet, and both have the same reverse.

War with Spain Medal was awarded for service in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines during the Spanish American War in 1898. Besides the castle, the medal incorporates tobacco and sugar cane stalks to either side of the year of the war. The rim is serial numbered “9412”. The lack of any prefix (“No.xxxx”) indicates the medal was produced under contract to one of several commercial firms using dies supplied by the US Mint. The pin (brooch) at the top of this medal is of the type used on medals produced between 1898 and 1920. The medal sports the second variation of the Spanish Campaign ribbon (the first had a wide gold stripe bordered by thin stripes of red with blue edging).

The Philippine Insurrection Medal was awarded for service in the Philippines against hostile natives between 1899 until cessation of hostilities, which ended up being 1913. Besides the coconut palm, it displays the lamp of knowledge and the scales of justice. The edge of the medal is serial numbered “M.No. 9422.” Serial numbers beginning with “M.No.” were available through the U.S. Mint to discharged veterans who provided proof of eligibility. The M.No. Series dates from about 1913 until about 1928, after which veterans received medals without prefix. The brooch on this particular medal is of the type used on medals produced between 1920 and 1940. The accompanying faded ribbon bar did not come with the medal, and its mounting style is typical of ribbons dating WWI and earlier.

Many medals can be traced back to an individual by the number. Unfortunately much of the list has been lost or not recorded, and these medals cannot be traced.