United States. a Battle of Manila Bay Medal (Dewey Medal) 1898, Ordinary Seaman James Vaughan, USS Raleigh

In bronze, struck by Tiffany & Company, impressed "JAMES VAUGHAN. ORDINARY SEAMAN" on the edge, obverse illustrating the right-facing bust of Commodore George Dewey, surrounded by text inscribed "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", with a wreathed anchor to the right, engraver marked "D.C. FRENCH 1898" (sculptor Daniel C. French) below the bust, reverse illustrating a bare-chested sailor sitting upon a gun barrel with a furled flag in his lap, surrounded by the inscription "IN MEMORY OF THE VICTORY OF MANILA BAY / MAY 1 1898", with a name plate at the base inscribed "U.S.S. RALEIGH", measuring 46.2 mm (w) x 51.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, suspension ring attached to a hanger illustrating an eagle with a sprig of laurel at the left and the hilt of a sword at the right, original ribbon, green oxidation spot evident to the left of Dewey's bust, with scattered spotting present on both sides, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Battle of Manila Bay Medal (AKA Dewey Medal) was a military decoration of the United States Navy which was established by the United States Congress on June 3, 1898, one month after the battle of May 1, 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 predating all other Navy campaign medals. It was created to recognize the forces of the United States Navy and the 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: USS Baltimore, USS Boston, USS Concord, USRC McCulloch, USS Olympia, USS Petrel, USS Raleigh, with 1,848 men of the Navy and Marine Corps eligible for the Medal. It is also one of only two medals with the recipient’s name engraved on the rim, the other being the West Indies Naval Campaign Medal (AKA Sampson Medal).