Presidential Medal for Merit
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Hello Collectors! Today I will be comparing the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL FOR MERIT, there were only a few makers of these medals. Below are two beautiful examples, a BB&B/U.S. MINT example is currently for sale on my eBay.
The Medal for Merit was, during the period it was awarded, the highest civilian decoration of the United States, awarded by the President of the United States to civilians for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services ... since the proclamation of an emergency by the President on September 8, 1939". It was created by Public Law 77-671 and its awarding codified by Executive Order 9286--Medal for Merit on December 24, 1942, later amended and restated by Executive Order 9857A of May 27, 1947. Created during World War II, and awarded to "civilians of the nations prosecuting the war under the joint declaration of the United Nations and of other friendly foreign nations", the medal has not been awarded since 1952.
AVERAGE PRICE:
(FROM MY EXPERIENCES)
The price varies by the condition, and the recipient the medal was awarded to.
AVERAGE - HIGH
$350.00 - $900.00
WORLD WAR II PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL FOR MERIT:
MAKER:
BB&B or US MINT (attempting to confirm)
MARKINGS:
Gold Gilt slotted sewn brooch, large stars with the highest quality enamels, U.V. Negative Ribbon drape, highest quality striking of this medal.
WORLD WAR II PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL FOR MERIT:
MAKER:
V.H. BLACKINTON & CO., INC.
MARKINGS:
Gold Gilt slotted sewn brooch, maker marked: VHB, smaller stars and average quality enamels, U.V. Negative ribbon drape, average quality striking of this medal.
Further Reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_for_Merit