France. A Verdun Medal 1916, Type Iii By Aguier

In bronze, engraver marked ""A. AGUIER"" on the obverse, 31 mm, original ribbon, spotting, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Verdun Commemorative Medal was created on November 20, 1916 by the Municipal Council of Verdun, to commemorate the heroism of its defenders. Originally intended to be awarded to those who served on the Verdun front between February 21, 1916 and November 2, 1916, the medal was also awarded to those who served anywhere on the Argonne and St Mihiel sectors between July 31, 1914 and November 11, 1918. The original, official and most commonly found version was by Vernier (Type II), but since supplies of this medal were inadequate, others created Verdun medals and at least seven versions of varying rarity are known, including this Type III version by Aguier. Between February 21 and December 19, 1916, some seventy percent of the entire French army by rotation fought in defence of Verdun. The Battle was the pinnacle of the truly appalling strategy of attrition, the town with its forts being attacked by the Germans in the certain knowledge that the French command would have to do whatever was necessary to defend it and with the aim of ""bleeding France white"". In the event, French losses of 120,000 dead and 260,000 wounded were almost equalled on the German side and by the end of 1916, the French had regained all the ground they had lost earlier in the year.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.