RARE 1920Õs 14K Distinguished Marksman Medal Group with President Coolidge Letter
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RARE 1920Õs 14K Distinguished Marksman Medal Group with President Coolidge Letter

Code: z99uapg90011bhg


SOLD!!! No Longer Available!

Product Description

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ARTIFACT: RARE 1920's 14K Distinguished Marksman Medal Group with President Calvin Coolidge Letter, Distinguished Pistol Shot and Engineer's "Leg" Medal, along with the President's Match Trophy Plaque. The Distinguished Marksman Medal is the earliest in the grouping. The medal's pinback bar features the United States Shield with the letters "U. S." engraved with thirteen stars and ornate details surrounding. Suspended from it is a shield shaped medallion, with embossed letters that read: "DISTINGUISHED MARKSMAN" and a center featuring a white enameled rectangle with a black enameled bull's-eye in the center. The reverse shows hand engraved letters that read: "1st LT. BRUCE C. HILL ENGRS. 1923" The medal is tested 14K (and weight appropriate when compared to the MARKED 14K Pistol Medal) and is dated 1923. This style of pinback on this medal pushes it back to the very early 20th Century for actual date of manufacture. Actually the Type IV version of this medal, from 1900's-10's could possibly have been a replacement medal because of the lower quality engraving. The Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal also features the United States Shield with the letters "U. S." engraved with thirteen stars and ornate details surrounding on the pin bar. Suspended from it is a shield shaped medallion, with embossed letters that read: "DISTINGUISHED PISTOL SHOT" and a center featuring a white enameled rectangle with a black enameled bull's-eye in the center. The reverse shows hand engraved letters that read: "1st LT. BRUCE C. HILL C. E. 1925" and is marked "14K".

Accompanied with the Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal, the President would send two of these letters out each year, awarded to the highest scorers of the President's Match. The envelope is addressed: "FIRST LIEUTENANT BRUCE C. HILL CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY. ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, TERRE HAUTE, IND.", crossed out below with ink it reads: "c/o CHIEF OF ENGINEERS." The envelope also features a "LET'S GO CITIZEN'S MILITARY TRAINING CAMPS" postal marking and the postal stamp reads: "WASHINGTON, D.C. MAR 5 5-PM 1926" (the reverse also features the same postal stamp, it is light, perhaps ink from the letter stacked beneath it), the return address reads simply, "THE WHITE HOUSE". The enclosed letter is dated "February 27, 1926" and is addressed to: "First Lieutenant Bruce C. Hill, Corps of Engineers, United States Army", the letter commends Lieut. Hill on winning the President's Match with a distinguished score of "194 out of a possible 200" and the Distinguished Pistol Shot award presented to him at "Camp Perry in Ohio on September 10th and 11th, 1925". The letter is signed, by President Calvin Coolidge. The letter and its envelope are extremely rare, and great to have with the medal of the same year. The third medal in the grouping is a hard to find, Engineers "Leg" Medal, which features crossed rifles with an enameled medallion suspended below. The medallion is round, showing engraved details of a wreath, the center depicts a bow and two arrows, crossed and centered within a red enamel disc with thirteen white enameled stars circling. The enameled colors of the medal symbolize the branch of service, the colors, in this example, the Corps of Engineers. The reverse of the medal is engraved, in delicate lettering that reads: "1st LIEUT BRUCE C. HILL C. E. 1929". It seems odd that the medal would be a much later date when compared to the Marksman badge, but it is clearly dated 1929. This last piece is, likely the most unique part of the grouping, it's an oval, plaque trophy circa 1925. The trophy is engraved and reads: "1925 WINNER OF THE PRESIDENT'S MATCH Š THE ORDNANCE TROPHY PRESENTED BY ARMY ORDNANCE ASSN." The engravings surrounding the letters are ornate with beautiful detail. The Ordnance Corps, built five, state-of-the-art '03 Springfield Rifles at Springfield Armory, which the Ordnance Association awarded to the top scorer at the President's Match. One was given each year, starting in 1925. This is from that first rifle, it's a shame it is no longer with it.

VINTAGE: Circa 1923 - 1929

SIZE: Approximately - President's Match Trophy: 2 7/8" x 1 ¾"; Envelope: 7 ¼" x 4 ¾" & Letter: 9" x 7 1/8"; Engineers "Leg" Medal: 2 ¼" x 1 ¼"; Distinguished Pistol Shot: 2 1/8" x 1 7/8"; Distinguished Marksman: 1 7/8" x 1 ½".

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: 14K Gold, enamel, oak tag, paper, bronze, brass

ATTACHMENT: Horizontal pins with drop in swivel locking catches and horizontal pin with come under catch on Marksman medal.

MARKINGS: Distinguished Pistol Shot: (reverse engraving) "1st LT. BRUCE C. HILL C. E. 1925"; Distinguished Marksman: "14K" and (reverse engraving) "1st LT. BRUCE C. HILL ENGRS. 1923"; Engineer's "Leg" Medal: "1st LIEUT BRUCE C. HILL C. E. 1929"; Envelope: "WASHINGTON, D.C. MAR 5 5-PM 1926

ITEM NOTES: This is from a United States Army collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MHJJX15 LCGEJX4/15 SLCGFJX4/15 SCABJX9/15

CONDITION: 8+ (Overall - Excellent): The envelope and letter show light to moderate age/storage wear/discoloration, one original central fold line and no rips or tears. The plaque shows a small area of loss along the left bottom, but does not detract from overall piece, both the distinguished medals are bright and all the enamel details remain fully intact. The Engineer's medal also shows an overall handsome patina and nearly all of the enamel details remain fully intact.

GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.