Ref Thread: Cuban Pacification Medal

[ghost]

I just received this Army Cuban Pacification medal and noted the rim number.

1. Are these traceable?

and

2. What are your thought concerning replacing the ribbon.

 

[KurtA]

With this particular medal, an original ribbon is always in bad condition. The reason being, they used some sort of inferior dye for the center OD brown stripe and now, 100 years later, the ribbon of an original US Army Cuban Pacification Medal is ALWAYS in bad shape.

Really nice medal! Should be interesting to see who it checks out to.

Kurt

[JBFloyd]

Cuban Pacification "No.3163" went to Peter E. Crabtree, Troop E, 11th Cavalry.

[ghost]

Thank you Jeff,

That makes perfect sense. This medal came with a small grouping of a man named Earl D. Crabtree who served in WWII with the 10th Mtn. Div. and in doing some Ancestry.com research found his father was Peter E. Crabtree but that is as far as I could get with that.

 

KurtA,

Thanks for the heads up concerning this ribbon. I think I'll put this medal in a small riker mount and try not to disturb it to much.

Unless someone has a better idea in conserving this medal,

I'm open to all opinions

 

Thanks again guys,

Charlie

[Garth Thompson]

The last official striking of the pre-WW2 US campaign medals all the way back to the Civil War was done some time in the 1950's. The medals were done by the US Mint, Medallic Arts Co. and, I think Rex Arts. They come in the same blue cardboard boxes the WW2 and later campaigns come in. They are struck medals with fine detail. They will be un-numbered with the earlier 1/2" wide flat crimp brooches. If a collector doesn't have the deeper pockets for numbered, attributed medals IMHO a very nice collection of quality official campaign medals.

Just for the record I don't consider that current GRACO junk worth owning.

Garth

 

For the pictures the earliest example will be on the viewer's right end the last official strike will be on the viewer's left.

 

US Army Cuban Pacification obverse

 

Reverse:

[Tonomachi]

I don't know that much about medals and picked this one up at the flea market. It is kind of mint for being so old which is a little worrisome. It is numbered 2131 but you can see a light 0 (zero) strike just in front of the rear most one (1). Is this a remake or a copy?

[Tonomachi]

Back

[KurtA]

Perfect example of the original issue. The olive tone is just the way it should be. The numbering on this particular medal is often sloppy. Often times a digit is struck so far up, the bottom of the medal is slightly disfigured.

Kurt

[Tom Nier]

Kurt's comments about the haphazard BB&B numbering of the early US Navy campaign medals have been widely verified by collectors. The typical 3 or 4 digit numerals on these medals show poor alignment and non-uniform spacing. They are often struck so heavily that the adjacent rim metal is visibly deformed. In fact, I used to own a Navy Cuban Pac with an "8" clearly struck over a "7" of a 3 digit medal number. The BB&B worker must have struck the previous number on the next medal, and corrected his mistake accordingly.

 

In contrast, the US Mint numbering of the early US Army campaign medals was a far classier job. These numerals are uniform in alignment & spacing, and are struck more lightly without metal deformation. The US Mint production of the "M.No." versions of the Navy Mexico & Philippine medals in the 1930s also had well struck numerals.

 

The olive green finish is unique to the Navy/Marine Cuban Pac medals. BB&B might have thought it a more artistic finish, but it evidently didn't thrill the Navy.

[buzzard517]

 

I picked this medal up a week or so ago. Medals are not my area so, I don't no much about it. It's in mint condition in tissue paper. As you can see, it's in it's issue box marked Baily, Banks & Biddle. The bottom of the box has a paper tag marked"1916" and the bottom rim of the medal is stamped "1916". When was this medal issued?

[0811gysgt]

That is a very nice complete set. It is not common to find that matching medal and its box. The Navy version is more common than the Marine Corps version of this medal, but this is still a great BB&B piece. The 1916 is the medal's number of issue, not the year. I believe that this is 1916 of 2500 that were issued by BB&B.

[KurtA]

That's the original issue from around 1909 and a great example. These used to worth double what they currently bring. However, about 10-12 years ago, a large hoard of them (along with other early USN campaign medals, Victory Medal clasps, Wake Island bars, etc) became available to the collector market and prices dropped significantly.

[Tim B]

Here's one from last October. It did not have the service ribbon but it's in mint condition and 100% correct for a BB&B strike. 

 

[bmmsb]

I am new to this site and would be gratefull on any additional information on a Cuban Pacification Medal I just picked up at the local Flea Market, the medal is serialed Numbered M.N.o. 129 on the rim. My research is limited to the Reference Book, "The Call of Duty", I am trying to figure out what series of these medals were first issued?, Were the M.No. serial numbered or the No. serial numbered issued first?, my reference book dosent really go into much detail. Also, how many medals were issued in the M.No. series compared to the No, series?, and how do these medals compare in Rarity to the later issued medals that were serial numbered without the Prefix? 

 

[Adam R]

On 3/4/2013 at 9:58 PM, bmmsb said:

I am new to this site and would be gratefull on any additional information on a Cuban Pacification Medal I just picked up at the local Flea Market, the medal is serialed Numbered M.N.o. 129 on the rim. My research is limited to the Reference Book, "The Call of Duty", I am trying to figure out what series of these medals were first issued?, Were the M.No. serial numbered or the No. serial numbered issued first?, my reference book dosent really go into much detail. Also, how many medals were issued in the M.No. series compared to the No, series?, and how do these medals compare in Rarity to the later issued medals that were serial numbered without the Prefix? 

 

Here's part of the introduction that Al Gleim wrote to his roster of "No." numbered Cuban Pac medals. The No. came first and are the only ones that are traceable to the original recipient. The M.No. and plain number came later and neither one are traceable. For the Cuban Pac the M.No. are rarest and most valuable of the three styles of numbering.

[Fred Borgmann]

If I can get the scans in here I would like to ask for opinions regarding this medal. This is a U.S. Navy Cuban Pacification Medal- Numbered 1234 deeply impressed on the edge. This medal is listed in Vernons green covered 4th edition as #303.

This medal has a satiny dark greenish gold color and is in near mint condition with a slightly worn ribbon with an open wrap brooch.

 

[Adam R]

Fred, It looks like a 100% correct medal, with original ribbon and brooch, as made by Bailey, Banks and Biddle about 1918.

[Tim B]

Looks like the 2nd (1918) BB&B contract with that serial number. Gleim states the numbers are medium in size and go from 1- 2500.

 

What are your concerns with the medal, stitching on the reverse? I believe the stitching is correct if that is the concern here. Can you show the engaved number?

 

[Tim B]

Just another for comparison, but appears you have the info you were seeking.

[Tim B]

.

[KurtA]

It's common for this particular medal to have rather sloppy numbering. Some I have seen have a distorted lower rim when viewed from the front resulting from the number being punched-in too high. Besides having to replicate a BB&B strike, it would be tough to make a good fake of the USN Cuban Pac - it has a very distinctive light green finish that would be tough to duplicate. The campaign medal "hoard" that surfaced in the Northern Viriginia about 10 years or so ago included many of these and many are still on the market; hence the lower prices. Others included in the "hoard" were the USN 1st Haitian and USN 2nd Nicaraguan. All boxed and mint. The price drop does not include the USMC Cuban Pac. That is still a REALLY tough one to find.

[Bill_Carman]

This US Campaign Medal was awarded to Frank Mayer.

 

Mr. Mayer enlisted on 29 November 1889; he served with G Troop, 1st US Cavalry Regiment. He was discharged as a Sergeant at Fort Grant, Arizona Territory four years later in 1894. He reenlisted several more times serving with the 5th US Infantry Regiment seeing service in Cuba and the Philippine Islands. He finished his military career in 1913 as Commissary Sergeant, 5th Infantry in Plattsburg Barracks, New York. He passed away 1 February 1943 and is buried in Ontario, New York.

 

The Cuban Pacification Medal, No. 5129, was issued for service with H Company, 5th Infantry Regiment, at Santiago, Cuba in 1897/98.

 

Cuban Pacification Medal

[MMcollector]

Another rare one, a 1908 Marine Corps Cuban Pacification Medal #965

 

 

Oscar L. Hanson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Aug. 15th 1905 at the Marine Barracks, Navy yard, New York. Records show Hanson on the U.S.S. Maine flagship on March 1906. Private Hanson was serving on the U.S.S. Maine in 1907 at Cape Cruz Cuba & he was awarded the Cuban Pacification Medal #965. Hanson continued to serve on the U.S.S. Maine until dec. 1908. He was stationed at the Marine Barracks Navy Yard Norfolk Virginia from Jan. 1909 to April 1909 when he was discharged from the United States Marine Corps.

[MMcollector]

I purchased this Army Cuban Pacification No. 1540 last week but I have not been able to find 1 thing about the recipient. His name is George Grivell, Company G 28th Infantry. I searched ancestry, fold3, & newspaper. Hoping someone here can help lead me in the right direction to research him. Thanks.

 

[kcmo]

Not my area and was hoping this one might be traceable as it is for sale at an antique store.  Also, any other red flags?  I see the back of the ribbon seems to be resewn with blue thread as all the others I've seen had red.  Numbered #176.  Thanks in advance.