SAMPSON MEDAL on eBay assembled from parts

[usmedalman]

These are photos of a real nice USS Oregon Phase III Sampson Medal on eBay that is assembled from a mix of original and reproduction parts. All the medal parts are original except for the SANTIAGO July 4 bar. Note the difference in color of the bar. It also uses a slightly different font which is especially noticeable in the rounder appearance of the "O" in Santiago. The bar also only has 78 rope twists on the outer border and the laurel wreath around the anchor on both ends of the bar is simply a series of blobs.

 

In addition to the repro SANTIAGO July 4 bar, the bars are assembled in the incorrect order, and the July 4 bar should be the suspender bar as it is the latest dated engagement and the July 2 bar should be a slide-on bar, not the suspender bar. The seller has a long history on eBay and an excellent seller rating, so I think he just doesn't know the ins and outs of the Sampson Medal details.