Current Location: In storage
Maker(s)
Mint:
Panama
State:
Panama, Republic of
Entities
Categories
Description
The Republic of Panama joined the Great War of 1914-1918 late, in 1917, and its active participation was limited, but in 1918 it did issue this medal to express its solidarity with the other Allies' armed forces and what the medal calls "la guerra del derecho", `the war of justice'. It was awarded in gold to commanders-in-chief of the Allied armies, in silver to generals and senior officers, and in bronze, albeit silvered bronze as this example makes clear, for other ranks. Awards of this medal made to British soldiers were recorded in The London Gazette; it appears that only a hundred medals or so were given to each Allied country, so the number even of bronzes must have been quite small.
This medal is unnamed, and it cannot now be known to whom it was awarded, or even in what country's army he fought. Lester Watson appears to have thought this a French medal--it is listed as such in his catalogue--which suggests that he may have acquired it with other French medals and therefore that the recipient may have also been French, but Watson's lists record no provenance for the piece so none of this can be considered certain.
Notes
History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, no provenance.
Legal notes
Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009
Measurements and weight
Diameter: 35.6 mm
Weight: 21.94 g
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Given
(2009)
by
Watson, Lester
Dating
Production date:
AD 1918
Note
Silvered
Materials used in production
Bronze
Techniques used in production
Struck
Inscription or legends present
Inscription present: Woman inscribing inscription on stone tablet to left, holding shield in other hand, border in imitation of cross with foliage between arms
- Text: PATRIA // LA GUERRA / DEL / DERECHO
- Location: Obverse
- Type: Design
Inscription present: Panama's national arms within border imitating cross with foliage between arms
- Location: Reverse
- Type: Design
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: CM.1462-2009
Primary reference Number: 141556
Watson Catalogue: E
Ordering: M-0345
Previous object number: LW.0345
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Monday 25 March 2024
Last processed: Wednesday 14 May 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Coins and Medals
