manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Share #1 Posted July 30, 2022 Sure looks like gilt on silver but the pin assembly is not right ? I appreciate your help thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted July 30, 2022 Share #2 Posted July 30, 2022 What on earth is that broach? I like the medal, but don’t think I’ve ever seen a broach like that on a military medal. Interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted July 30, 2022 Anyone ever see a set up like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog06 Posted July 30, 2022 Share #4 Posted July 30, 2022 The drape is called a bent slot brooch. It is from a 1939 Metal Arts contract. The planchet should be numbered on the lower left edge, in the 68000 to 77000. The planchet on this medal does look like a sterling based USN medal. Probably someone making up a medal out of parts. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share #5 Posted July 30, 2022 The medal does not have a number. If someone put this together they did it a long time ago because the ribbon has wear from the brooch. I went to Medal Mulisha’s site and found out this brooch was used on Army PHs. Is this an Army PH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collectsmedals Posted July 30, 2022 Share #6 Posted July 30, 2022 I know I have seen a broach like that, but I don't remember what it was on. I will take a look through my medals and see if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog06 Posted July 30, 2022 Share #7 Posted July 30, 2022 I think it is a Navy planchet on a Metal Arts drape. Both have been around for 77 plus years and could have been put together long ago. It is not hard to open the ring and switch Purple Heart planchets. The correct gilt wrap brooch and ribbon for USN medals can be hard to find. The tacking thread binding the front and rear ribbons together just under the brooch look pinkish. They should be ivory white to match the border. Metal Arts used this brooch on other medals. I've seen it on a Naval reserve medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share #8 Posted July 30, 2022 Due to the off color tacking thread I think at some point the brooch was replaced. Why isn’t the planchette numbered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted July 30, 2022 Share #9 Posted July 30, 2022 It's not numbered because it's a Navy medal. Somewhere, it got married to a bent slot brooch (as Bulldog correctly says). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share #10 Posted July 30, 2022 15 minutes ago, dhcoleterracina said: It's not numbered because it's a Navy medal. Somewhere, it got married to a bent slot brooch (as Bulldog correctly says). Like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog06 Posted July 30, 2022 Share #11 Posted July 30, 2022 Navy type planchets were not numbered. Some like yours were sterling that tends to show through the gold. Your PH has a plastic purple insert and the red and white shield is a separate piece. These are all characteristics of Navy procured PH's. The Metal Art planchet has an enameled purple center, baked into the heart rather than being an insert. The red and white shield is also part of the heart rather than a separate piece. Pictures below, USN on the left, Metal Arts on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 30, 2022 Author Share #12 Posted July 30, 2022 Great side by side comparison of these two Hearts. I have never seen the Metal Arts PH with that brooch before, thank you for posting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted July 31, 2022 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2022 Many WW1 era Purple Hearts have missing drapes. They are very tough to find. If I still had one, I'd want this really bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share #14 Posted August 6, 2022 I put it in the for sale section if anyone is interested. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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