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WWI Victory Medal Navy Bars


KevinBeyer
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Can anyone help me with this? The ribbon obviously has been replaced to accommodate the number of bars. I believe these to be a mixture of original and reproduction Navy bars. But, I do not know enough to distinguish between the two. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

VictoryWBars_close_00_750.jpg

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collectsmedals

I have collected the World War 1 Victory Medals with Naval Bars for many years, and based on my experience these are all reproductions. This is based on many of them having pebbled backgrounds which the originals did not have, as well as the size, shape, and count of the rope segments around the perimeter of each bar. If you have questions on any specific bar I can get into more detail. 

 

There is an excellent collectors guide available; World War I Victory Medals With the History of the United States Victory Medal by James P. Michels Jr. which has excellent descriptions as well and photographs of the medals and bars, including in depth discussions on reproductions.

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Pebbled background indicate reproductions made for the collector market (I have heard around 1970). The clasp with the thin silver backstrap chances are is a good one.

 

 

Bill

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Thank you for this information.  I just purchased a copy of Mr. Michels' book and am awaiting its delivery.

 

Not all of the bars have pebbled backgrounds, so there is a mixture of possible original and definite reproductions.

For the sake of clarity, this medal does not belong to me.  I am trying to investigate any authenticity on behalf of its current owner.  Most of his medals are beyond my area of expertise.  So, I appreciate any and all help forum members can provide.

 

Thank you again,

 

Kevin

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Hmmmm.  This very much reminds me of a piece I had in a display to illustrate the various WWI VM bars.  I had two medals with long ribbons, which I purchased from OMSA, one bearing a set of army bars and the other a set of navy bars.  I used a mixture of authentic and reproductions bars because so many of them, especially the navy bars, were unattainable.  What tipped me off is the crimped brooch mounting pin I used to mount the pair in a frame.  It was a nice illustrative display but I eventually sold the frame through e-bay.  I am sure others made similar displays.

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easterneagle87

I think I saw both of these ribbons posted for sale a while back. I would have like to get them myself, but didn’t have the $ at the time. Even if some were repos,it is a great display. 

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collectsmedals
22 hours ago, USMCR79 said:

The clasp with the thin silver backstrap chances are is a good one.

USMCR79 may be correct about the MINE SWEEPING clasp being genuine.  For me the top edge on the left side does not look right, but I certainly could be wrong. Since you are purchasing the book I recommended you will be able to judge for yourself.

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The Asiatic bar is probably good but hard to say for sure from the photos. The follows bars are definitely good:

Destroyer

Mine Sweeping

Patrol

Salvage

Transport

 

All the other bars and the Maltese cross are fake.

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Thanks for your comments, Adam.  I can take more pictures and post them if it will help people more knowledgeable than me (which, to be fair, is practically everyone!) with their assessment.

 

I will try to do so tomorrow during the day when there is better lighting.

 

Kevin

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Ok, here is a list of the bars with Adam R's comments about originality:

ARMED GUARD

ASIATIC

ATANTIC FLEET

AVIATION

DESTROYER (original)

ESCORT

GRAND FLEET

MINE LAYING

MINE SWEEPING (original)

MOBILE BASE

OVERSEAS

PATROL (original)

SALVAGE (original)

SUBMARINE

SUBMARINE CHASER

TRANSPORT (original)

WEST INDIES

WHITE SEA (reproduction)

MALTESE CROSS (reproduction)

 

I will upload closer images taken with indirect, afternoon sunlight in a moment.

 

Kevin

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  • 3 weeks later...
KevinBeyer

As an update to this post, I have studied James P. Michels Jr's book and believe that I have properly identified each of the bars on this medal.

 

image.png

 

Thanks to user collectsmedals for pointing me in the direction of Mr. Michel's book.  And, thanks to Adam Rohloff for weighing in on the subject, too.

 

Kevin

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