World War Medals

This Marine medal with the low number 4171 was awarded to George H. Lienneman for good conduct during his four-year enlistment period from 1909 to 1913. All of the engraving on the back is by hand. I nearly overlooked this because it’s so neatly done, but, as you can see, each letter is unique. The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal was established in 1896 in the design seen here with a ribbon and medal suspended from a clasp bearing the words U. After 1935, that clasp was eliminated. The name of the recipient, the number of the issue and the dates of service were hand engraved until World War II when the medals began to be numbered on the rim and the name, etc…