1915 Haitian Campaign Medal with 1919-1920 Bar

[Javelin4life]

Before I begin, I want to give a major thank you to both Robert Wilson for this incredible new acquisition, and Adam Rohloff for valuable background information on the bar. This is an original BB&B made 1915 Haitian Campaign Medal with the elusive 1919-1920 bar. The bar was for those personnel who reenlisted and were engaged in operations in Haiti between April 1 1919 and June 15 1920. The medal is in stunning condition for its age, with a beautiful patina to match. The number on the bottom is 5276. The 1919-1920 bar is an original (most likely made by BB&B as well), with the correct “fat” back on the reverse. George Studley was known to make these bars back in the 30’s, but his have a “thin” back to the reverse, a clear way to tell an original from a copy apart. Approximately 100 marines qualified for the 1919-1920 bar- it is unknown how many sailors qualified for it. This medal is also outside of the traceable range, with only 1-15 and 78-1008 (10%) attributed.

 

 

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[Hermanus]

Wow, great medal. A real treasure.

 

Regards

Herman

[scottplen]

Wow ! Great item !

[Wharfmaster]

VERY nice condition indeed.

 

 

 

 

Wharf

[vietvet7071]

Beautiful Medal.

[Adam R]

One of the great rarities of US medals. At least 10 times rarer than a "Wake Island" bar. In over 30 years of collecting I've been able to acquire exactly two examples, both unattributed. I can't recall ever seeing an attributed bar come on the market.

 

Here's a comparison of the original bar with the copies that George Studley sold. Note that the stars are a bit misshapen on the copies and the numbers are shorter and fatter on the original bar.

[Adam R]

It's actually easier to ID an original by looking at the width of the strap on the reverse.

[KurtA]

The "hoard" of really nice unissued USN medals and bars that came out of the DC area 15 to 20 years ago made these at least "obtainable." Beside this bar, there were quantities of really nice boxed USN Campaigns, WW1 USN Victory Medal bars and Wake Island bars. This really pushed down prices from what they were previously.

 

Really nice medal and bar.

[Tom Nier]

Adam's comments on the rarity of this bar are quite correct. The complete Marine Corps list of 19 officers & 71 enlisted men is published in the Gleim Medal Letters, Extract C31, p. 59-60.

 

In my tally of numbered 1915 Haiti medals, I located only two 1919-1920 clasps that passed through the collectors' market. One clasp was mounted on 1915 Haiti medal #1429. It was sold in the May 2001 FJP auction for the stiff price of $2200. The other clasp was on 1915 Haiti medal #5170, and sold for $1200 in the July 2002 FJP auction. Neither medal was attributed.

[bobgee]

Very nice! Bobgee

[rmoff]

New member -first post. I read this topic with interest. I recently purchased a 1915 Marine Haitian Campaign medal. It came in the box.The medal has one of the copy 1919-1920 bars - the one with the pin back. Also I believe it has a new clasp( the old clasp and split ring were in the box). The edge is stamped M No 6371. I am attempting to attach scans, and then hope you can tell me what I have.

 

 

 

[Allan H.]

This is the bottom reproduction bar shown by Adam in the post above.

Allan

[MMcollector]

haitian350.jpg haitian350.jpgNew member -first post. I read this topic with interest. I recently purchased a 1915 Marine Haitian Campaign medal. It came in the box.The medal has one of the copy 1919-1920 bars - the one with the pin back. Also I believe it has a new clasp( the old clasp and split ring were in the box). The edge is stamped M No 6371. I am attempting to attach scans, and then hope you can tell me what I have.

 

 

 

 

This medal should not be numbered with a M.No. Prefix.