Montford Point Marines Congressional Gold Medal

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

On View

Community/Third Floor, 3 053

Museum MapsObjects in this Location

Exhibition

Double Victory: The African American Military Experience

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

Usage

Not determined

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd520e7ed2b-6ca0-4f06-bdc9-19b398a03a8c