United States. A Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal, German Steamship General Osorio 1931

In 18K Gold, weighing 39.7 grams, struck by the United States Mint, engraver marked with an "M" (George Thomas Morgan) at the base of the bust, obverse illustrating the left-facing bust of Liberty, with a band inscribed "LIBERTY" and incorporating laurel leaves in her hair, surrounded by the inscription "PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES", with a six-sided star at the bottom, reverse engraved "To ARNOLD BOLM / SEAMAN OF THE GERMAN STEAMSHIP GENERAL OSORIO, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC SERVICES IN EFFECTING THE RESCUE AT SEA, ON AUGUST 8, 1931, OF THE PASSENGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE AMERICAN STEAMSHIP WESTERN WORLD", within an open-ended wreath composed of two branches of laurel leaves, measuring 35.5 mm (w) x 41.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, suspended from a 33.8 mm (w) x 7.5 mm (h) hanger with gold pinback, the hanger bearing a shield and inscribed "E-PLURIBUS UNUM" (the "IBU" obscured by the shield), bruised, edge nicks, contact marks overall, near very fine. In a hardshelled case, black pebbled exterior, coat-of-arms of the United States of America in bronze gilt affixed to the lid, inside lid in black satin and padded, with maroon satin placed over the hinged area, replacement medal bed in black satin, recessed and trimmed in maroon satin, measuring 67.2 mm (w) x 119.2 mm (h) x 26 mm (d), the exterior exhibiting scuffing and wear overall, with a large wear spot on the bottom that exposes the overall wooden framework, case better than fine.

Footnotes:

1. USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched on September 17, 1921 at Sparrows Point, Maryland as Nutmeg State, an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship intended as a World War I troop transport, but redesigned upon the armistice as a passenger and cargo ship and completed as Western World for delivery to the United States Shipping Board. The ship's acceptance on May 5, 1922 and delivery on May 9, 1922 marked the completion of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Shipping Board.

Western World was allocated by the USSB to its agent, Munson Steamship Line, for its South American service, operating as the Pan America Line, making her maiden voyage on May 17, 1922 to Rio de Janeiro. Munson operated the ship on the New York to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires route with Santos, added during return voyages along with sister "535's" American Legion, Pan America and Southern Cross. On August 8, 1932, Western World ran aground at Porto do Boi, Brazil. She had 166 crew and 85 passengers on board at the time. The passengers were taken off by the German ship General Osorio and landed at Rio de Janeiro. Seaman Arnold Bolm of the German Steamship General Osorio was awarded the Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal in recognition of his heroic services in effecting the rescue at sea of the passengers and members of the crew. The ship was refloated on September 10th, subsequently repaired and returned to service.

As the USSB sold off its vessels, the Munson Steamship Line bought the four vessels operating for its Pan America Line service in February 1926. Each ship, including Western World, was purchased for a price of $1,026,000. After years in commercial service on Munson Steamship Line's South American service, Western World was purchased by the War Department in 1939, converted into a transport, and renamed to serve as USAT Leonard Wood until transfer to the Navy on June 3, 1941. The ship was commissioned, classified as a transport with hull number AP-25, USS Leonard Wood with a United States Coast Guard crew on June 10, 1941. During World War II, the ship was converted into an attack transport during March 1942 and reclassified APA-12 (Harris-class). The ship was decommissioned March 22, 1946 and was sold for scrap 20 January 1948.

2. George Thomas Morgan (November 24, 1845 - January 4, 1925) was a United States Mint engraver who is famous for designing many popular coins, such as the Morgan dollar, the reverse of the Columbian Exposition half dollar, and the reverse of the McKinley Birthplace Memorial gold dollar. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England where he worked for many years as a die engraver. He came to the United States in 1876 and was hired as an assistant engraver at the Mint in October under William Barber. He figured very prominently in the production of pattern coins from 1877 onward, and designed several varieties of 1877 half dollars, the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar, and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins. He became the seventh Chief Engraver of the United States Mint following the death of Charles E. Barber in February 1917. Morgan is most famous for designing the Morgan dollar, one of many namesakes, as well as the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.