- Issued by
- United States Department of State, American, founded 1789
- Received by
- Carter, William Beverly Jr., American, 1921 - 1982
- Date
- January 1981
- Medium
- gold with metal and silk (textile)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 2 15/16 × 1 7/16 × 3/8 in. (7.5 × 3.7 × 0.9 cm)
- Description
- A United States Department of State Distinguished Honor Award issued to Ambassador William Beverly Carter, Jr. This medal is a composite object: a bar pin with a safety catch, holding a white ribbon attached to a gold medal. The ribbon is looped over the front of the bar pin. The ribbon is white with three (3), thin, vertical, navy blue stripes. The bottom of the ribbon is threaded through the bail at the top of the medal. The medal is gold toned and roughly rounded. The obverse is dominated by the Great Seal of the United States: a bald eagle with its wings displayed, holding a bundle of thirteen (13) arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right talon. In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto [E PLURIBUS] and [UNUM]. Over the eagle’s head there is a cluster of thirteen (13) five-pointed stars surrounded by a ring of circular clouds. A vertically striped shield covers the eagle's breast. The seal is framed by two relief concentric circles. Text between the circles reads, [DEPARTMENT OF STATE] at the top and [UNITED STATES OF AMERICA] at the bottom, separated by two five-pointed stars. Wrapped around the bottom of the circular frame, is a wreath and a scroll with stamped text that reads [DISTINGUISHED / HONOR AWARD]. On the reverse of the medal at the center is stamped text that reads [W. BEVERLY CERTER / JANUARY 1981]. At the bottom is a stamped maker’s mark and carat stamp [P / S / PROV] and [10KT].
- Place made
- Providence, Rhode Island, United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, Africa
- Tanzania, East Africa, Africa
- Collection title
- Archive of Ambassador W. Beverly Carter
- Classification
- Awards, Medals, and Insignia
- Type
- commemorative medals
- Topic
- Africa
- Government
- International affairs
- Politics
- U.S. History, 1969-2001
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the family of Ambassador William Beverly Carter, Jr.
- Object number
- A2019.45.1.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




