2018 World War I Navy Medal Designs Reviewed

The U.S. Mint in 2018 will issue silver medals to augment silver dollars commemorating the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I. The medals will celebrate the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. One of them will commemorate the U.S. Navy.

Candidate designs for the medals were discussed and reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on March 16 and by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on March 21.

Navy Medal Recommendations

For the Navy Silver Medal, the U.S. Mint presented 6 designs for consideration with 3 obverses and 3 reverses. The CFA and CCAC recommended two different obverses but voted for the same reverse design.

The CCAC’s obverse choice was NVY-O-01, which portrays a four-piper destroyer targeting an enemy submarine by launching depth charges off the stern with an additional depth charge exploding in the background. In the sky, kite balloons patrol for submarines and other dangers.

The CFA’s obverse recommendation was NVY-O-02, which depicts the USS Wadsworth escorting a convoy, having just deployed a depth charge.

Their suggested reverse, NVY-R-3, features the World War I era Navy emblem.

For their selected designs, the CCAC suggested moving much of the medal’s text from the obverse to the reverse. The CFA recommended further coordination of fonts for their pairing.

Navy Medal Design Candidates

The three Navy medal obverse candidates and U.S. Mint descriptions of them follow.

NVY-O-01 depicts a four-piper destroyer targeting an enemy submarine by launching depth charges off the stern with an additional depth charge exploding in the background. In the sky, kite balloons patrol for submarines and other dangers.

NVY-O-02 depicts the USS Wadsworth escorting a convoy, having just deployed a depth charge.

NVY-O-03 features the USS Fanning, an iconic four-piper destroyer, in "razzle-dazzle" camouflage paint. U.S. sailors from a nearby ship look on. Note: The Navy used "razzle-dazzle" camouflage paint (a series of random geometric shapes) during WWI in an effort to confuse the bow and stern of a ship, thereby making its direction harder to detect.

The three Navy medal reverse candidates and U.S. Mint descriptions of them follow.

NVY-R-01 features American soldiers disembarking from a troop transport, representing the Navy’s critical role in the protection of troops and equipment. Below, a four-piper destroyer commands the seas as it escorts a military convoy in the distance. The additional inscription refers to a famous quote attributed to Commander Joseph K. Taussig. When the first U.S. Naval destroyer division arrived in Queenstown, Ireland, the British commander asked Cmdr. Taussig when his squadron would be ready for service. Purportedly, he replied "We are ready now, sir," further underscoring America’s commitment to the war effort.

NVY-R-02 depicts the USS Conyngham, representing U.S. Naval Destroyers arriving at Queenstown, Ireland, in May 1917, with the World War I era Navy emblem in the field. Additional inscriptions include "RETURN OF THE MAYFLOWER," and "WE ARE READY NOW, SIR."

NVY-R-3 showcases the World War I era Navy emblem.

2018 World War I Armed Forces Silver Medals

Artists for the U.S. Mint created over 60 design candidates for the five 2018 World War I Armed Forces Silver Medals. The other medals will honor the Army (see Army medal designs), Air Service (see Air Service medal designs), Marines (see Marines medal designs) and Coast Guard (see Coast Guard medal designs).

There is a chance for one more medal as the CCAC asked for a sixth to celebrate women whom served during the war.