Contributed by Mike Byers – Post by CoinWeek
In a stunning survival from the early 20th century, an original, uncancelled reverse die for the World War I Victory Medal — designed by famed American sculptor James Earle Fraser, has come to light. Long believed to have been destroyed or decommissioned decades ago, this relic from the Philadelphia Mint not only tells the story of U.S. military honor, but also serves as a physical artifact of numismatic and medallic history.
This extraordinary find deserves attention not only from collectors of military medals and U.S. Mint artifacts but also from art historians and those with a passion for the American narrative told through numismatic design. The World War I Victory Medal (known before the establishment of the World War II Victory Medal in 1945 simply as the Victory Medal) was a United States service medal.
The World War I Victory Medal: An Allied Effort in Bronze
Known simply as the Victory Medal until the creation of its World War II successor in 1945, the U.S. World War I Victory Medal was the American component of a broader inter-Allied campaign to honor military service in the Great War. In March 1919, an international committee recommended that each Allied nation produce its own version of a Victory Medal, all featuring shared visual elements: a winged figure of Victory on the obverse and a rainbow-colored ribbon representing unity and peace.
For the United States, the design responsibilities were handed to James Earle Fraser, already widely celebrated for his work on the Buffalo nickel and numerous public monuments. Under the supervision of the Commission of Fine Arts, Fraser created a powerful and symbolic piece.
A Die That Shouldn’t Exist
The reverse die in question bears the powerful inscription “THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION,” framed above the United States coat of arms, surmounted by a fasces, a Roman symbol of lawful authority and unity. Radiating from each side are the names of the Allied and Associated Nations, emphasizing the global nature of the conflict and the shared victory.
Minted in bronze with a diameter of 36 millimeters, the medal was suspended from a silk moiré rainbow ribbon, 1 3/8 inches long, with red centered between the multicolored arcs, a visually striking element shared by all Allied versions of the medal.
Most astonishing, however, is that this reverse die has survived uncancelled. still bearing the design in strikingly crisp detail. Given the U.S. Mint’s strict procedures for canceling and defacing obsolete dies to prevent unauthorized restrikes, the survival of a pristine example like this is exceedingly rare and likely due to long-forgotten storage or administrative oversight.
Eligibility and Distribution
Though originally intended to be created by an act of Congress, legislative approval for the medal failed to pass. Instead, the U.S. Army authorized its version via General Orders in April 1919, followed by the Navy in June 1919. The medal was awarded to all U.S. military personnel who served between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, with additional eligibility extended to members of:
The American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia (Nov. 12, 1918 – Aug. 5, 1919)
The American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia (Nov. 23, 1918 – Apr. 1, 1920)
To further honor individual accomplishments, the Victory Medal was issued with a variety of campaign clasps and battle devices, including service bars and stars that attached to the ribbon.
A Piece of Minting and Military History
Uncancelled U.S. Mint dies are almost never seen in private hands, and when they do appear, they tend to be canceled beyond legibility. This World War I Victory Medal reverse die stands apart: it is fully preserved, unaltered, and visually stunning, offering not only a glimpse into early 20th-century minting processes, but also a tangible connection to the soldiers, sailors, and Marines who served in the first truly global conflict.
Whether destined for a museum collection or the hands of a dedicated medallic historian, this die is more than an industrial tool, it is a symbol of service, sacrifice, and enduring American craftsmanship.
For more information on this Reverse Die, Contact Mike Byers
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