Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 73:
Description
LARGE LOT: U.S. Medal Planchets – AF Cross, DFC, Airman’s Medal, Purple Heart & More. A large assemblage of unmounted United States military medal planchets, miniatures, drapes, and ribbon components – including Air Force Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross pendants, Airman’s Medals, USMC Brevet crosses, Coast Guard pendants, a First Transatlantic Flight commemorative, and Purple Heart miniatures – offered as manufacturer or assembler stock rather than an awarded, named group. This is not an identified recipient’s medal bar but a wide cross-section of U.S. decoration designs, gathered as loose, largely unmounted pendants and drapes of the type found in an insignia jobber’s inventory or a collector’s parts box. No single recipient, unit, or period of service ties the lot together; instead it offers real breadth, from early expeditionary-era awards through the Cold War. No separate published biography or provenance applies, and the individually bagged planchets and factory-fresh finish on several pieces support an origin as undistributed stock rather than issued medals. The historical range is nonetheless considerable. A pendant inscribed "First Transatlantic Flight, United States Navy" recalls the 1919 NC-4 crossing, while a Mexican Service Medal (1911-1917) pendant and two Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal pendants commemorate early-20th-century Marine and Navy expeditionary service in Latin America. Multiple World War II Victory Medal pendants, several miniature Purple Hearts, and Airman’s Medal pendants speak to the classic mid-century decorations, while three Coast Guard 1790-seal octagonal pendants and a Coast Guard Distinguished Service miniature extend the range into Cold War-era service awards. Components consistent with the Air Force Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross are present as well, though as loose planchets rather than assembled, awarded medals. Among the principal pieces are four cross-form pendants with green-enameled laurel wreath encircling a spread eagle, cataloged as Air Force Cross components; a cross-form pendant with a spread-winged eagle at center, consistent with a Distinguished Flying Cross type; three bronze crosses of Croix de Guerre pattern with crossed swords and a laureled profile bust; three Airman’s Medal pendants plus a further miniature on ribbon; two USMC Brevet-style "Brave" crosses with eagle-globe-and-anchor finials and one further example still sealed in its bag; and a large sunburst-and-eagle medal of uncertain issuing body. Maker marks are not established from the photographs provided. Remaining material includes multiple World War II Victory Medal pendants, four Purple Heart miniatures (several bagged), the Mexican Service and Nicaraguan Campaign pendants noted above, three Coast Guard pendants, an assortment of full-size and miniature ribbon bars, loose ribbon drapes in various theater and service colors, and lapel-pin ribbon devices. Overall condition is very good to apparently unissued: planchets show minor toning and factory finish variation with no significant corrosion, chipping, or enamel loss noted, while loose ribbons exhibit light storage creasing consistent with long-term flat or bagged storage. A substantial, broad-ranging parts lot of American medal designs spanning nine decades of service, better suited to the collector-assembler than the individual-history hunter.
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