1943 Medal Africa Water Hole Bronze

Coin Details

Auction Record

$54 MS66 06-25-2021 eBay

Description

This 1943 bronze medal titled "Africa Water Hole" was produced during World War II and depicts a scene from the African theater of operations. The subject matter indicates this medal commemorates American or Allied military operations in North Africa, where U.S. forces fought from November 1942 through May 1943 in the campaigns that drove Axis forces from Tunisia. Water sources were strategically critical in the North African desert, and the depiction of a water hole may reference both the physical reality of desert warfare and the symbolic significance of survival and endurance in harsh conditions. The bronze composition was standard for wartime commemorative medals, as precious metals were restricted for war use. World War II generated an enormous body of medallic art commemorating battles, campaigns, leaders, and the everyday experiences of soldiers, and this "Africa Water Hole" medal represents the artistic response to the war's African chapter. The medal was produced as a commemorative for veterans of the North African campaigns or as an artistic interpretation of the war experience by a sculptor working with Medallic Art Company.

Rarity Notes

Bronze. Africa Water Hole, 1943. WWII commemorative medal. Military campaign medals from WWII are collected by both medal enthusiasts and military history collectors. Moderately scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #533333