Howard Daniel noticed the Whitman announcement of the War of 1812 medals being exhibited this week at their Baltimore Coin Expo. Sponsored by John Kraljevich Americana, the medals will be shown at the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission (Booth #1415).

I asked John Kraljevich for some more information, and he writes:

On October 25, 1812, Captain Stephen Decatur's frigate United States (44 guns) met the superior British frigate Macedonian (49 guns) off the coast of Madeira, near the northwest coast of Africa. In a brief but furious battle, Decatur suffered five men killed, seven wounded, while the British suffered 36 dead and 68 wounded. The Americans captured the Macedonian, one of the largest and newest ships in the British fleet. The captured vessel hoisted an American flag and served in the U.S. Navy until 1828. The silver Decatur medal seen here was struck at the same time as Decatur's personal gold medal and was likely presented to one of his officers who served in the battle. Decatur, a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, died in a duel in Bladensburg in 1820.

For more information on the show, see:expo.whitman.com/baltimore-winter-expo/schedule/