United States. A Tiffany-Made Manila Bay Medal (Dewey Medal) to Apprentice I Class Kelley, USS Olympia, USN

In bronze, struck by Tiffany & Company, engraved "THOMAS J. KELLEY, APPRENTICE, 1st CLASS." on the edge, the obverse illustrating the right-facing bust of Commodore George Dewey, the bust framed by the inscription "THE GIFT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE ASIATIC SQUADRON UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMODORE GEORGE DEWEY", an anchor bearing laurel leaves above a star at the right and engraver marked "D.C. FRENCH 1898" (artist Daniel Chester French, who sculpted the statue of a seated Lincoln in Washington's Lincoln Memorial and the Minuteman statue at Concord, Massachusetts), reverse illustrating a shirtless sailor sitting upon a gun, surrounded by the inscription "IN MEMORY OF THE VICTORY OF MANILA BAY / MAY 1 1898", with the sailor's right foot resting upon a plaque inscribed "U.S.S. OLYMPIA" (the name of Kelley's vessel), measuring 46 mm in diameter, exhibiting contact marks, the medal suspended from a hanger bearing an spread-winged eagle with icons on either side, original frayed ribbon, very fine. 

 

Footnote: The Battle of Manila Bay took place on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Contraalmirante (Rear Admiral) Patricio Montojo. The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War. The battle was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history. There were six American vessels involved in the engagement: the USS Olympia, flagship, protected cruiser of 5,870 tons, with twin 8-inch guns mounted in turrets fore and aft, ten 5-inch guns and six torpedo tubes, with a top speed of 20 knots; the USS Baltimore, protected cruiser of 4,600 tons, with single 8-inch guns mounted fore and aft, two 8-inch and two 6-inch guns aiming axially and three 6-inch guns aiming on each broadside, with a top speed of 20 knots; the USS Raleigh, protected cruiser of 3,200 tons, with one 6-inch and two 5-inch guns aiming forward, four 5-inch guns aiming astern and two 5-inch guns aiming on each broadside, with a top speed of 19 knots; the USS Boston, protected cruiser of 3,200 tons, with single 8-inch guns mounted in barbettes fore and aft with 6-inch axial firing guns mounted beside each, four additional 6-inch guns, with a top speed of 13 knots; the USS Concord, gunboat of 1,710 tons with six 6-inch guns, with a top speed of 17 knots; and the USS Petrel, gunboat of 867 tons with four 6-inch guns, with a top speed of 12 knots. Despite the superiority of the American artillery, the success rate of their guns was minimal, a total of 5,859 shells were expended during the battle. Excluding shells fired at land targets and the un-engaged vessels, only 145 hit the seven Spanish engaged vessels. The Reina Cristina and Castilla suffered 81 hits between them, the Don Antonio de Ulloa was hit 33 times, the Don Juan de Austria was hit 13 times, the Marques del Duero was hit 10 times, the Isla de Cuba was hit 5 times, while the Isla de Luzón was hit 3 times. There were three un-engaged American vessels: the Revenue Cutter McCulloch, the collier Nanshan and the steamer Zafiro (a supply vessel). They were directed to keep out of the main action because of their light armament and lack of armor. The Manila Bay Medal (Dewey Medal) was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898. The medal recognizes the leadership of Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, during the Spanish-American War, and the Sailors and Marines under his command. The medal was created to recognize the forces of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps who participated in the Battle of Manila Bay. To be awarded the Dewey Medal, a service member must have served on one of the following naval vessels on May 1, 1898: the USS Baltimore, the USS Boston, the USS Concord, the USS McCulloch, the USS Nanshan, the USS Olympia, the USS Petrel, the USS Raleigh or the USS Zafiro. The Dewey Medal was a one-time only decoration and there were no devices or campaign stars authorized to the medal. Admiral Dewey himself was awarded the medal, although he always wore it with the medal's reverse displayed which depicted a sailor sitting on a gun. Dewey had the rare distinction of being one of only four Americans entitled to wear a medal with their own image on it. The others were Rear Admiral William T. Sampson (Sampson Medal), Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal) and General of the Armies John J. Pershing (Army of Occupation of Germany Medal). The name of the recipient is engraved on the medal's edge, this being one of only two service medals issued officially named to the recipient, the other being the West Indies Campaign Medal (Sampson Medal). The medal was recognized as being given for active military duty, however, because it recognized a single battle in a single campaign, it was designated as a commemorative medal. When worn on a military uniform, the Dewey Medal was considered senior to the Sampson Medal. Apprentice First Class Thomas J. Kelley is confirmed as having been at the Battle of Manila Bay and is listed on the crew roster of the USS Olympia, which appeared in the "Bounding Billow", the ship's newspaper.