United States Navy Good Conduct Type III bronze medal
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1905
This United States Navy Good Conduct Medal, categorized as a Type III specimen, is a circular bronze medallion crafted to honor honorable naval service. The obverse features a detailed depiction of the USS Constitution, the historic three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate, encircled by a rope border with an anchor underlay.
The outer rim of the medal is decorated with a distinctive chain border. The inscription "United States Navy" is positioned between the inner rope and outer chain borders. Additionally, the medal is marked with the core virtues "Fidelity," "Zeal," and "Obedience" around the perimeter. The piece measures 32 mm in diameter and weighs 21.91 grams. It is suspended from a burgundy-colored fabric ribbon, which is attached to the medal by a suspension ring.
The Type III variant was introduced by the Navy in 1885 and remained in use until 1961, with this specific example dating to approximately 1905. The design reflects the nautical heritage of the U.S. Navy through its iconic imagery and symbolic maritime motifs.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 21.91 g
- Diameter
- 32 mm
- Material
- bronze, burgundy fabric (silk or satin)
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Good Conduct Medal, Type III
- Suspension
- suspension ring
Design
- Obverse
- USS Constitution, anchor underlay, rope border, chain border
- Inscriptions
- United States Navy, Fidelity, Zeal, Obedience
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.