United States Civil War Medal 1861-65 (Two examples)

United States of America Civil War Medal (1861-65), with ribbon (post-1913). The obverse has the head of Lincoln surrounded by the raised inscription, 'WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY FOR ALL'. The reverse has the words 'THE CIVIL WAR' over a bar, under which appear the dates '1861-1865'; the centre is surrounded by a wreath composed of a branch of oak on the left and a branch of laurel on the right, joined at the base by a bow. The medal is impressed on the edge 'No536'. The suspender is a loose ring attached to a fixed ring on the medal. The ribbon is half blue and half grey with a brooch attachment.

The medal was first authorized in 1905 for the fortieth anniversary of the Civil War's conclusion. The blue and gray ribbon denotes the respective uniform colors of the U.S. and Confederate troops. The Army Civil War Campaign Medal was established by the United States War Department on January 21, 1907, by General Orders Number 12. To qualify, a soldier had to serve between April 15, 1861, and April 9, 1865. The award was intended for both Union and Confederate soldiers. When it was discovered that medal qualifications included the words Active Federal Military Service, the Congressional Act of 1945 had those words removed. The medals vary in size and quality of finish.