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Category: Pre-WW1 Medals

The Medal for the Battle of the Cinco de Mayo

The Medal for the Battle of the Cinco de Mayo is part of several medals created during the occupation of Mexico by French troops between 1862 and 1867.

On July 12 1859, Juárez decreed the first regulations of a new reform: “The Law of Nationalization of the Ecclesiastical Wealth.” The civil war between Liberals and Conservatives that followed (Civil War of the Reform) severely damaged Mexico’s infrastructure and crippled its economy. In view of the government’s desperate financial straits, Juárez canceled, in 1861, repayments of interest on foreign loans that had been taken out by the defeated conservatives.

Spain, Britain and France, angry over unpaid Mexican debts, sent a joint expeditionary force that seized the Veracruz Customs House in December 1861. Spain and Britain soon withdrew after they realized that the French Emperor Napoleon III intended to overthrow the Juárez government and establish a Second Mexican Empire, with the support of the remnants of the Conservative side in the Reform War.

Faced with US opposition to a French presence and a growing threat on the European mainland from Prussia, French troops began pulling out of Mexico in late 1866.

The Medal for Acultzingo

The Medal for Acultzingo is part of several medals created during the occupation of Mexico by French troops between 1862 and 1867.

On July 12 1859, Juárez decreed the first regulations of a new reform: “The Law of Nationalization of the Ecclesiastical Wealth.” The civil war between Liberals and Conservatives that followed (Civil War of the Reform) severely damaged Mexico’s infrastructure and crippled its economy. In view of the government’s desperate financial straits, Juárez canceled, in 1861, repayments of interest on foreign loans that had been taken out by the defeated conservatives.

Spain, Britain and France, angry over unpaid Mexican debts, sent a joint expeditionary force that seized the Veracruz Customs House in December 1861. Spain and Britain soon withdrew after they realized that the French Emperor Napoleon III intended to overthrow the Juárez government and establish a Second Mexican Empire, with the support of the remnants of the Conservative side in the Reform War.

Faced with US opposition to a French presence and a growing threat on the European mainland from Prussia, French troops began pulling out of Mexico in late 1866.

The Medal for the French Intervention – Oaxaca

The Medal for the French Intervention is part of several medals created during the occupation of Mexico by French troops between 1862 and 1867.

On July 12 1859, Juárez decreed the first regulations of a new reform: “The Law of Nationalization of the Ecclesiastical Wealth.” The civil war between Liberals and Conservatives that followed (Civil War of the Reform) severely damaged Mexico’s infrastructure and crippled its economy. In view of the government’s desperate financial straits, Juárez canceled, in 1861, repayments of interest on foreign loans that had been taken out by the defeated conservatives.

Spain, Britain and France, angry over unpaid Mexican debts, sent a joint expeditionary force that seized the Veracruz Customs House in December 1861. Spain and Britain soon withdrew after they realized that the French Emperor Napoleon III intended to overthrow the Juárez government and establish a Second Mexican Empire, with the support of the remnants of the Conservative side in the Reform War.

Faced with US opposition to a French presence and a growing threat on the European mainland from Prussia, French troops began pulling out of Mexico in late 1866.

The Restorer of the Peace Medal (1855)

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Institution: 1855
Country: Mexico

The Restorer of the Peace medal was created in 1955, when the future president Ignacio Comonfort restored the peace after a series of conservative risings against liberal governmental reforms.

Ignacio Gregorio Comonfort de los Ríos (12 March 1812 – 13 November 1863), or Ignacio Comonfort, was a Mexican politician and soldier who became President of Mexico in 1855 after the outbreak of the Revolution of Ayutla that overthrew Santa Anna. This uprising’s name refers to not just a narrow political goal of ousting the dictator, but a more thorough change in political direction via armed warfare.

The Plan of Ayutla was the 1854 written plan aimed at removing conservative, centralist President Antonio López de Santa Anna from control of Mexico during the Second Federal Republic of Mexico period. This event is considered to be the first act of the Liberal Reform in Mexico.

The new regime would then proclaim the 1857 Mexican Constitution, which implemented a variety of liberal reforms.

The Cross for Military Loyalty (1841)

This set of medals were issued during the period 1835-1841 of armed conflict between settlers and the Mexican army that began in late 1835.

As the number of American settlers in the Mexican state of Texas kept growing, the Mexican government made the decision in 1830 to close the border to all immigration, imposing as well numerous restrictions like the abolition of slavery.

The Mexican government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) with the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops “will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and fighting under no recognized flag.”

The revolution began in October 1835, after a decade of political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and the increasingly large population of American settlers in Texas. Colonists and Tejanos disagreed on whether the ultimate goal was independence or a return to the Mexican Constitution of 1824. In March 1836, a second political convention declared independence and appointed leadership for the new Republic of Texas.

Determined to avenge Mexico’s honor, Santa Anna vowed to personally retake Texas. His Army of Operations entered Texas in mid-February 1836 and found the Texians completely unprepared. Mexican General José de Urrea led a contingent of troops on the Goliad Campaign up the Texas coast, defeating all Texian troops in his path and executing most of those who surrendered. Santa Anna led a larger force to San Antonio de Béxar (or Béxar), where his troops defeated the Texian garrison in the Battle of the Alamo, killing almost all of the defenders.

After the Texans’ defeat in April 1836 of General Santa Anna, Mexico made no further attempt to reconquer the territory, although it refused to recognize its independence. The annexation of Texas as the 28th state of the United States, in 1845, led directly to the Mexican–American War. By the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, signed in 1848, Mexico ceded almost half its national territory to the United States.

The Star for Bejar and El Salado (1842)

This set of medals were issued during the period 1835-1841 of armed conflict between settlers and the Mexican army that began in late 1835.

As the number of American settlers in the Mexican state of Texas kept growing, the Mexican government made the decision in 1830 to close the border to all immigration, imposing as well numerous restrictions like the abolition of slavery.

The Mexican government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) with the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops “will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and fighting under no recognized flag.”

The revolution began in October 1835, after a decade of political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and the increasingly large population of American settlers in Texas. Colonists and Tejanos disagreed on whether the ultimate goal was independence or a return to the Mexican Constitution of 1824. In March 1836, a second political convention declared independence and appointed leadership for the new Republic of Texas.

Determined to avenge Mexico’s honor, Santa Anna vowed to personally retake Texas. His Army of Operations entered Texas in mid-February 1836 and found the Texians completely unprepared. Mexican General José de Urrea led a contingent of troops on the Goliad Campaign up the Texas coast, defeating all Texian troops in his path and executing most of those who surrendered. Santa Anna led a larger force to San Antonio de Béxar (or Béxar), where his troops defeated the Texian garrison in the Battle of the Alamo, killing almost all of the defenders.

After the Texans’ defeat in April 1836 of General Santa Anna, Mexico made no further attempt to reconquer the territory, although it refused to recognize its independence. The annexation of Texas as the 28th state of the United States, in 1845, led directly to the Mexican–American War. By the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, signed in 1848, Mexico ceded almost half its national territory to the United States.

The Star for the Defense of Matamoros (1836)

This set of medals were issued during the period 1835-1841 of armed conflict between settlers and the Mexican army that began in late 1835.

As the number of American settlers in the Mexican state of Texas kept growing, the Mexican government made the decision in 1830 to close the border to all immigration, imposing as well numerous restrictions like the abolition of slavery.

The Mexican government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) with the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops “will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and fighting under no recognized flag.”

The revolution began in October 1835, after a decade of political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and the increasingly large population of American settlers in Texas. Colonists and Tejanos disagreed on whether the ultimate goal was independence or a return to the Mexican Constitution of 1824. In March 1836, a second political convention declared independence and appointed leadership for the new Republic of Texas.

Determined to avenge Mexico’s honor, Santa Anna vowed to personally retake Texas. His Army of Operations entered Texas in mid-February 1836 and found the Texians completely unprepared. Mexican General José de Urrea led a contingent of troops on the Goliad Campaign up the Texas coast, defeating all Texian troops in his path and executing most of those who surrendered. Santa Anna led a larger force to San Antonio de Béxar (or Béxar), where his troops defeated the Texian garrison in the Battle of the Alamo, killing almost all of the defenders.

After the Texans’ defeat in April 1836 of General Santa Anna, Mexico made no further attempt to reconquer the territory, although it refused to recognize its independence. The annexation of Texas as the 28th state of the United States, in 1845, led directly to the Mexican–American War. By the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, signed in 1848, Mexico ceded almost half its national territory to the United States.

The Star for the Defense of Texas (1836)

This set of medals were issued during the period 1835-1841 of armed conflict between settlers and the Mexican army that began in late 1835.

As the number of American settlers in the Mexican state of Texas kept growing, the Mexican government made the decision in 1830 to close the border to all immigration, imposing as well numerous restrictions like the abolition of slavery.

The Mexican government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) with the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops “will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and fighting under no recognized flag.”

The revolution began in October 1835, after a decade of political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and the increasingly large population of American settlers in Texas. Colonists and Tejanos disagreed on whether the ultimate goal was independence or a return to the Mexican Constitution of 1824. In March 1836, a second political convention declared independence and appointed leadership for the new Republic of Texas.

Determined to avenge Mexico’s honor, Santa Anna vowed to personally retake Texas. His Army of Operations entered Texas in mid-February 1836 and found the Texians completely unprepared. Mexican General José de Urrea led a contingent of troops on the Goliad Campaign up the Texas coast, defeating all Texian troops in his path and executing most of those who surrendered. Santa Anna led a larger force to San Antonio de Béxar (or Béxar), where his troops defeated the Texian garrison in the Battle of the Alamo, killing almost all of the defenders.

After the Texans’ defeat in April 1836 of General Santa Anna, Mexico made no further attempt to reconquer the territory, although it refused to recognize its independence. The annexation of Texas as the 28th state of the United States, in 1845, led directly to the Mexican–American War. By the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, signed in 1848, Mexico ceded almost half its national territory to the United States.

The Defense of Puebla Medal (1833)

The Defense of Puebla was a government authorized medal for the militia defenders at Puebla during the Revolt of the Polkos in Mexico in 1833.

The Defense of Puebla was a government authorized medal for the militia defenders at Puebla during the Revolt of the Polkos in Mexico in 1833.

Valentín Gómez Farías (14 February 1781 – 5 July 1858) was the President of Mexico for five short periods between the 1830s and 1840s. During his term in 1833 and in the absence of President Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794–1876), he enacted significant liberal reforms that were aimed at undermining the power of the Roman Catholic Church and the army in Mexico – for example, he advised Catholic clerics to limit their sermons to religious concerns and stop intervening in politics.

Some of Gómez Farías’ legislation restricted the Catholic Church’s power and eliminated some military privileges. The Conservatives, the Church, and the Army quickly responded in the form of the Revolt of the Polkos, calling for the removal of the Liberal government. During it, five Mexican National Guard regiments rose up in rebellion against the Mexican government, in protest over legislation that permitted the government to requisition money and property from the Catholic Church.

After the revolt was put down, the government authorized a medal for the militia defenders at Puebla: The Defense of Puebla medal.

The Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the Congress and one of the three highest civilian awards in the United States. 

Time Period: Pre-WW1, The Great War, Interwars, Second World War, Post-WW2
Institution: 1776
Country: United States
 

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress and one of the three highest civilian awards in the United States. Alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it’s the oldest and highest American civilian award.

The medal is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”

The tradition within the U.S. Congress of awarding gold medals as a form of recognition originated during the American Revolution, initially bestowed upon military personnel. Over time, this practice expanded to include individuals from various professions and, in the late 20th century, even groups. 

At the time of writing this, there have been 184 Congressional Gold Medals awarded.

How the Congressional Gold Medal is Awarded

There are no permanent statutory provisions for the creation of Congressional Gold Medals. When one has been deemed appropriate, Congress has, by legislative action, provided for the creation of a medal on an ad hoc basis.

Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. The medal was first awarded in 1776 by the Second Continental Congress to General George Washington.

Although the first recipients were military figures who participated in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War, Congress broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, pioneers in aeronautics and space, explorers, lifesavers, notables in science and medicine, athletes, humanitarians, public servants, and foreign recipients.

The medal is normally awarded to persons, but in 1979 the American Red Cross became the first organization to be honored with a gold medal. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.

Medal awarded to Charles A. Lindbergh in 1930
Medal awarded to Charles A. Lindbergh in 1930. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Congressional Gold Medal Design

A Congressional Gold Medal is designed by the United States Mint to commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal is awarded specifically. Medals are therefore different in appearance, and there is no standard design.

Congressional Gold Medals are considered non-portable, meaning that they are not meant to be worn on a uniform or other clothing but rather displayed. In rare instances, miniature versions have been made or converted for wear on clothing suspended from a ribbon.

Often, bronze versions of the medals are struck for sale by the U.S. Mint, and may be available in both larger and smaller sizes.

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