Montford Point Marines Congressional Gold Medal
- On View
- Military History Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Commissioned by
- United States Congress, American, founded 1789
- Created by
- United States Mint, American, founded 1792
- Subject of
- 51st Marine Defense Battalion, American, founded 1942
- 52nd Marine Defense Battalion, American, founded 1943
- Date
- 2011
- Medium
- Medal: gold;
- Sleeve: velvet;
- Box: cherry wood, velvet
- Dimensions
- Diameter (medal): 3 × 3/16 in. (7.6 × 0.5 cm)
- H x W x D (velvet case for medal): 3 7/8 × 5 × 3/16 in. (9.8 × 12.7 × 0.5 cm)
- H x W x D (wooden case for medal): 3 × 6 1/8 × 5 in. (7.6 × 15.6 × 12.7 cm)
- Description
- Congressional gold medal in honor of Montford Point Marines has a relief on its obverse featuring three Marines on the left and three in the forefront with rifles. Text following apex of the medal's arc reads [MONTFORD POINT MARINES / 1942-1949]. On verso is a relief of a troop in formation with a tower in the background on the right; the text reads: [FOR / OUTSTANDING / PERSEVERANCE / and COURAGE / that INSPIRED / SOCIAL CHANGE / in the/MARINE CORPS / 2011 ACT OF CONGRESS].
- A rectangular velvet sleeve encases the gold medal; a small tab at the top of the sleeve assists the medal's removal from the box.
- The storage container is a cherry wood box with a brass hinged lid and push-release button on the front center which opens it. The lid has the gold embossed logo of the U.S. Treasury encircled with text which reads [Treasury / United States Mint] and [United States Mint] is in calligraphic script beneath the logo.
- Place depicted
- Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Awards and Medals
- Type
- medals
- Topic
- Military
- Montford Point Marines
- Segregation
- World War II
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2015.237ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions