EARLY TYPE 3 G.A.R. MEDAL FROM THE MOLLUS COLLECTION

$125.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 1052-28

This badge comes from the recently dispersed collections of the War Library and Museum in Philadelphia, incorporated in 1888 by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the veterans’ organization for Union officers. It is unidentified, but still has the MOLLUS display number (512) on a paper label attached to the rank bar and on the reverse of the eagle is a museum inventory number, both at least testifying to the fact the owner was an officer during the war, who also must have joined the G.A.R. fairly early: the eagle at top is the “Type-III” with raised wings. This was adopted in 1869, replacing the earlier lapel pins, and was itself replaced in 1880 because it looked too much like the eagle pins on the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The flag ribbon has (faded) cherry red borders indicating the wearer held office at the department level, probably Pennsylvania, given the location of the museum, and the shoulder strap at median position indicates he is a former G.A.R. officer at that level. The single silver star was used for several ranks. In this case he likely had been a senior vice commander or provisional department commander.

The MOLLUS museum was a repository for a world-class collection of artifacts housed from 1922 on in a Philadelphia townhouse. The museum closed in 2008. Many of their holdings made their way to other institutions, but we recently purchased a number pieces from them at auction. The MOLLUS collection inventory number on white ground on the reverse of the eagle pin and its MOLLUS display number on a paper label on the rank bar are nice indicators of this provenance.

The condition is fair: the ribbon shows obvious wear, with some fading, fraying and tears, mostly on the front side, with the medal present, but barely attached.  [sr] [PH:m]

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