Museum Collections
Luce Center
Captain Stephen Decatur, Jr. Naval Medal
Object Number:
1182
Date:
1820-1881
Medium:
Bronze
Dimensions:
diameter: 2 5/8 in. ( 6.7 cm )
Marks:
inscription: obverse, below bust truncation: "FURST. F."
inscription: reverse, below exergual line, at center: "FURST F."
Description:
Bronze struck medal with obverse showing uniformed bust of Stephen Decatur, Jr. facing right with legend: "STEPHANUS DECATUR NAVARCHUS, PUGNIS/PLURIBUS, VICTOR" Reverse shows naval battle scene with legend: "OCCIDIT SIGNUM HOSTILE SIDERA SURGUNT" and inscription below exergual line: "INTER STA.UNI.NAV. AMERI/ET MACEDO.NAV.ANG.DIE/XXV OCTOBRIS/MDCCCXII"
Gallery Label:
The Decatur reverse die was reproduced in the latter part of 1881. Medals struck since that time bear "REPRODUCTION 1881" in the exergue. A medal in the colleciton of John Ford, Jr., struck prior to 1881 has a die break at the bottom of the reverse, as does this example.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.