"1865" Medal Silvered White Metal 1st C.V.H.A. Veteran's Medal, Holed 31mm

Coin Details

Description

This 31mm silvered white metal medal dated 1865 is a veteran's medal from the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (1st C.V.H.A.), featuring a hole for suspension as a wearable badge. The 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery served throughout the Civil War, initially manning the fortifications defending Washington, D.C., before being thrust into infantry combat during the brutal campaigns of 1864. The regiment suffered catastrophic losses at the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864, when it lost 155 men killed or mortally wounded in a single charge — one of the highest single-engagement casualty counts of any regiment in the war. This veteran's medal was produced for surviving members of the regiment, for wear at reunions or commemorative events. The holed format allowed it to be worn on a ribbon as a badge of service. Veteran's medals and reunion badges from specific Civil War regiments are important historical artifacts that document both the service of individual units and the culture of veteran commemoration that flourished in the decades following the war.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Regimental veteran's medals were produced in quantities limited to surviving members and are scarce today, particularly for units with heavy casualties like the 1st C.V.H.A.

Cross References

PCGS #916586; 1st Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery