1908 & 1910 Gunnery Medals – USS Maryland (ACR -8) – SOLD

Description

1908 & 1910 Gunnery Medals – USS Maryland (ACR -8), with the 1910 medal engraved, “Presented to A.F. Hart / USN – USS Maryland / 1910.  This small 1 inch diameter medal with scalloped rim, has crossed cannon with target at their center with battleship, federal shield, anchor and eagle. A split brooch pin holds the predominantly gold ribbon with blue borders. A thin hanger extends down from the ribbon holding the medal.

The earlier gummary medal dated 1908, has a battleship and target in white enamel, and the federal shield is in color as well.  The medal is suspended by a red enameled pennant reading, USS Maryland, 1908 with a blue sphere centered between the numbers.  Not sure what the blue sphere signifies; perhaps a division in the fleet.

Condition of both medals is very good.

1908 medal is approximately 2.5 inches high.

1910 medal is 3 1/8 inches.

I have to assume these were made and issued in limited numbers for a limited period.  I have not been able to find any information on these.

“In October 1905, following shakedown, Maryland joined the Atlantic Fleet for operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean, where she took part in the 1906 winter maneuvers off Cuba The next summer, she conducted a training cruise for Massachusetts Naval Militiamen, and then readied for transfer to the Pacific. Departing Newport on 8 September 1906, she sailed – via San Francisco and Hawaii — for the Asiatic Station, where she remained until October 1907. She then returned to San Francisco and for the next decade she cruised throughout the Pacific.”  (Wikipedia).