United States Historical Medals By Rod Ploessl Published: November 7, 2006 PrintEmail
The Army Certificate of Merit (1847)
'Virtutis et Audaciae Monumentum et Premium' (Virtue and Audacity Are Their Own Monument and Reward)
Created by Congress on 3 Mar 1847, during the War with Mexico, for US Army Privates. In 1854, coverage was extended to also include Non-Commissioned Officers. Awarded for distinguished service in battle or peacetime, for heroism involving saving life or property at the risk of one's own life, or for other services deemed deserving by the President.
THE ORIGINAL MEDAL OF HONOR (1862)
The Navy's Medal of Honor was the first approved and the first designed. The initial work was done by the Philadephia Mint at the request of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. The Mint submitted several designs for consideration, and the one prepared by the Philadelphia firm of William Wilson & Sons was the design selected.
The selected Medal of Honor design consisted of an INVERTED, 5-pointed STAR. On each of the five points was a cluster of LAUREL leaves to represent victory, mixed with a cluster of OAK to represent strength. Surrounding the encircled insignia were 34 stars, equal to the number of stars in the U.S. Flag at the time....one star for each state of the Union including the 11 Confederate states.
Inside the circle of 34 stars were engraved two images. To the right is the image of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war. On her helmet is perched an owl, representing WISDOM. In keeping with the Roman tradition, her left hand holds a bundle of rods and an ax blade, symbolic of authority. The shield in her right hand is the shield of the Union of our states (similar to the shield on our seal and other important emblems.)
Recoiling from Minerva is a man clutching snakes in his hands. He represented DISCORD and the insignia came to be known as "Minerva Repulsing Discord". Taken in the context of the Civil War soldiers and sailors struggling to overcome the discord of the states and preserve the Union, the design was as fitting as it was symbolic.
NAVY MEDAL OF HONOR (1862)
For all practical intents and purposes, the Navy Medal of Honor remains the same today as it did when it was born. The only change has been in the attachment that connects it to the ribbon, and the ribbon itself. Originally the Navy Medal of Honor was suspended from its red, white and blue ribbon by an anchor wrapped with a length of rope. The reverse side of the Medal was incribed with the words "Personal Valor" above an open area in which the recipient's name could be engraved.
ARMY MEDAL OF HONOR (1862)
Struck from the same die as the Navy Medal of Honor, the original Army Medal differed only in the emblem that attached it to the same red, white and blue ribbon as the Navy. Replacing the anchor was an eagle perched on crossed cannon and clutching a saber in its talons. Replacing the words "Personal Valor" on the back of the Medal were the words "The Congress To" with an area to engrave the recipient's name.
The Kearny Medal for Officers
'Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori' (Sweet and Fitting it is to Die for One's Country)
On 29 Nov 1862, the officers of the 1st Division, III Corps met and adopted the resolution establishing a "medal of honor" to be known as the "Kearny Medal", which would be presented to all officers (and those soldiers promoted to officers prior to 1 Jan 1863) who had "Honorably served in battle under General Kearny in his Division."
Major General Phillip Kearny was killed in the Battle of Chantilly on 1 Sep 1862.
Designed by Ball, Black, and Company; New York
The Kearny Cross for Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
On 13 Mar 1863, Brigadier General Birney issued an order establishing a "cross of valor", to be known as the "Kearny Cross" and awarding it to Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates who had distinguished themselves in battle.
Major General Phillip Kearny, former Commander of the 1st Division, III Corps, was killed in the Battle of Chantilly on 1 Sep 1862.
Designed by Jacobus; Philadelphia
The Gillmore Medal (The Fort Sumter Medal)
On 28 Oct 1863, Major General Quincy A. Gillmore issued an order creating "medals of honor for gallantry and meritorious conduct during the operations before Charleston" and awarding them to enlistedmen of his command who had been in action in the batteries and trenches.
This medal is suspended by a swivel, from a metal clasp; there was no ribbon.
Designed by Ball, Black, and Company; New York
The Butler Medal (The Colored Troops Medal)
'Ferro iis Libertas Perveniet' (Liberty Wrought by Iron)
On 11 Oct 1864, Major General Benjamin F. Butler, the Commander of the Army of the James, announced that a special medal would be struck in honor of certain black soldiers of his command for gallantry in action in the storming of New Market Heights, 29 Sep 1864.
For this one action there were nearly two hundred medals presented.
Medal designed by Anthony C. Paquet Ribbon and attachments designed by Charles W. Kennard & Co.
Civil War Campaign Medal
Established by the War Department on 11 Jan 1905, for those personnel who served in the Union forces during the Civil War.
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THE ORIGINAL MEDAL OF HONOR (1862) 
