Nick Graver writes:

J.S.: Your medal is a scarce Civil War medal awarded by General Quincy Gillmore to certain soldiers in his command and known as the "Gillmore Medal." The medal's obverse is captioned, "Fort Sumter / August 23d 1863" and shows the once formidable structure reduced to rubble after several days of well-directed federal bombardment. Interestingly for a Union medal, high magnification reveals the Confederate national colors still flying defiantly above Sumter's battered ramparts.

The reverse perimeter legend, "For Gallant and Meritorious Conduct," encircles a central proclamation reading, "Presented by Q. A. Gillmore Maj. Genl." A military engineer trained at West Point, Major General Quincy Adams Gillmore made a gallant effort to capture Charleston, South Carolina. To achieve that goal, he tried neutralizing the city's defenses with all of the considerable firepower at his disposal. The courage and devotion to duty demonstrated by Gillmore's men were not unnoticed, and the general had some 400 medals for valor privately issued under his own name by the New York firm of Ball, Black & Co.

Unfortunately, your medal is missing the top bar (which is attached by a claw-type catch) that had the inscription with soldier's name. I have seen several of these medals missing this part before, and they are typically priced about $500-$1,000.

The last complete medal I know of was sold by Leland Little Auction Company in Hillsborough, N.C., Sept 17, 2011 for $3,200. Their medal pictured here shows a complete top bar with the name inscribed, "G. E. Hazen, 3rd Rhode Island Artillery." These medals in past have sold for more than $5,000, based on the soldier's history.

To read the complete article, see:Ask the Civil War Collector(www.go-star.com/antiquing/civil_war_collector_0713.htm)

For more information on Southeastern Antiquing Magazine, see:www.antiquingmagazine.com