United States. A Silver Purple Heart, 1942

Two-piece construction, in silver gilt with red and white enamels, engraved in running script "Murray 1942" on the reverse, measuring 34.8 mm (w) x 43.3 mm (h), original ribbon with brooch pinback, small chip in the purple enamels to the left of the bust of George Washington, overall gilt loss, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by its 17 mm (w) x 4 mm (h) enameled ribbon bar, in its hardshelled case of issue, marked "PURPLE HEART" on the lid, case near extremely fine.

Footnote: Silver-based Purple Hearts were issued in the early part of the Second World War by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.