United States. A West Virginia Medal of Honor 1861-1865, Class I, West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers

In bronze, impressed "JOHN GREEN Co I 7th REG CAV VOLs" on the edge, obverse illustrating a figure of Liberty at the right, her arms extended and about to place a wreath on the head of an approaching soldier with her right hand, her left hand holding a scroll and presenting it to the soldier, an eagle perched on a pedestal behind Liberty, with a box of growing cereals behind the soldier, the coat-of-arms of the state of West Virginia below, flanked by the dates "1861" and "1865" and incorporating a ribbon banner below inscribed "MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI", engraver marked "J. SIGEL", reverse inscribed "PRESENTED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA" within an open-ended wreath composed of two branches of laurel leaves, maker marked "A. DEMAREST N.Y.", measuring 37.3 mm in diameter, missing its "HONORABLY DISCHARGED" suspension hanger, bruised, contact marks, very fine.

Footnote: In 1866, the state of West Virginia authorized the minting of over 26,000 medals, to honor the Civil War Union soldiers who served in West Virginia regiments. This includes the soldiers of the 45th Colored Infantry who were assigned to West Virginia by the United States government. Many men from other states served in West Virginia regiments and were awarded medals, but soldiers from West Virginia who served in other United States military organizations or in regiments of other states did not receive medals. Some of the medals have been cherished family heirlooms since they were first awarded. Others were buried with soldiers or have found their way into pawn shops, flea markets, retail stores and private collections. A few thousand medals remain unclaimed in the West Virginia State Archives. Three versions exist: Class I, "Honorably Discharged"; Class II, "Killed In Battle"; and Class III, "For Liberty" (Died of Illness or Wounds).