The Butler medal for U.S. Colored troops in the American Civil War.

Perhaps the rarest medal to come out of the American Civil War and exceedingly collectible as a wartime issued medal and the only medal struck solely for black soldiers is the Butler Medal for gallantry at the battle of New Market. General Benjamin Butler had the US Mint strike 197 of these as table medals in 1864. They were designed by Anthony C. Paquet, the designer of the Medal of Honor. He then sent them to a jeweler, Charles W. Kennard & Co., to be fitted with an ornate ball & claw top suspension, a ribbon, and an ARMY OF THE JAMES clasp. General Butler wrote "I had a medal struck, in solid silver, of like size, weight, quality, fabrication and intrinsic value with those Queen Victoria gave with her own hands to the distinguished soldiers of the Crimea." The medals were then presented to soldiers of the U.S. Colored Troops under his command for gallantry in the Battle of New Market Heights. How many of these massive silver medals have survived the past 140 years is unknown but I am aware of only 5 others in museum and private collections. Thanks for letting me share it with you!

[Allan H.]

Originally Posted by wartimecollectables

Perhaps the rarest medal to come out of the American Civil War and exceedingly collectible as a wartime issued medal and the only medal struck solely for black soldiers is the Butler Medal for gallantry at the battle of New Market. [SNIP] How many of these massive silver medals have survived the past 140 years is unknown but I am aware of only 5 others in museum and private collections. Thanks for letting me share it with you!

Andy,
WoW! I am simply blown away with this piece! I have read about them and even seen black and white photos of them, but this is the first time I have ever seen a color image! And the Condition!!
Thank YOU for sahring it!
Allan

[Paul V]

Super!

Thanks for sharing this with us!

PaulV.

[Douglas J Schrack]

Thank you for sharing that rare and interesting medal.
Benjamin Franklin Butler was one of the most reviled men in the Union Army by all southerners. As if his position on secession at the start of the war was not enough, he was the one who declared freed slaves as "contraband' to be used as the Army saw fit. It is interesting to consider his possible motivation? On the first unsuccessful assault at New Market Heights many of the men were captured and murdered by the Southern troops because they were black.
Doug