Eli Harvey

The obverse bears martial American Eagle, perched on crag, wings spread threateningly. Below, APRIL - 6 - 1917; signed in lower right, ELI HARVEY / FECIT. ©; American Numismatic Society oak leaves in circle beneath signature.

The reverse bears two oak branches and inscription THE / AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC / SOCIETY / ISSUED / IN COMMEMORATION / OF THE / DECLARATION OF WAR / BY THE / UNITED STATES / OF / AMERICA.

This medal was issued by the American Numismatic Society to commemorate the United States' entrance into World War I. After publicly striving to keep the United States neutral, President Woodrow Wilson finally asked Congress for a "war to end all wars" that would "make the world safe for democracy." Congress formally declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.

This is the 32nd official issue of the American Numismatic Society. This two-sided version of ANS-31 is much rarer because the Society's Medal Committee decided that the reverse side was redundant and detracted from the whole medal. The trial strike with the reverse was mixed into the entire order but the remaining medals were struck as uniface medals.

The medal measures 90mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is at least 2 pieces in bronze.

The obverse bears martial American Eagle, perched on crag, wings spread threateningly. Below, APRIL - 6 - 1917; signed in lower right, ELI HARVEY / FECIT. ©; American Numismatic Society oak leaves in circle beneath signature.

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. and stamped with the number 42.

This is the 31st official issue of the American Numismatic Society. It was issued to commemorate the United States' entrance into World War I. After publicly striving to keep the United States neutral, President Woodrow Wilson finally asked Congress for a "war to end all wars" that would "make the world safe for democracy." Congress formally declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.

A bronze medallion of the eagle was sent to Pershing's field headquarters in France by the medal commissioners. Eli Harvey didn't know it. In a note under the photograph of the medal found in Harvey's personal collection, he wrote:

"One day I found a letter in the vestibule mailbox addressed to Mrs. Harvey (my first wife Mary) from the general. I asked if she had written to General Pershing and she said yes. 'Why didn't you tell me?' I asked. 'Because I knew thee would say, don't bother the general now, he has charge of two million American boys.' I agreed."

General Pershing, who had made a specialty of studying these birds, liked it very much.

The medal measures 88.9mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 1 piece in gold, 50 in silver and 113 pieces in bronze.