US // Victory Liberty Loan / Homefront Medal
This award medal was typical of the devices used to stimulate sale of war bonds. This medal is made from a captured WWII German Cannon Given out for buying War Bonds during WWII.
An aggressive campaign was created by Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo to raise money from war-supporting Americans by selling the bonds. The government used famous artists to make posters, and used movie stars to host bond rallies. Al Jolson, Elsie Janis, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin were among the celebrities that made public appearances promoting the idea that purchasing a liberty bond was "the patriotic thing to do" during the era. Chaplin also made a short film, The Bond, at his own expense for the drive.
Even the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts sold the bonds, using the slogan "Every Scout to Save a Soldier". School rivalries were activated to try to outdo each other in sales. Companies took pride in 100 percent employee participation.
Liberty Loans were loans raised in the USA during World War I. There were four separate issues of these loans during the war, and after the armistice a fifth, known as the Victory Liberty Loan. The American people subscribed about $24 billion, and nearly one-quarter of the population of the country became owners of this scrip.
This World War I Victory Liberty Loan Homefront Medal. The obverse features an image of the US Treasury Building and eagle images and reads;
Victory Liberty Loan around the circumference.
The reverse side has not been engraved with a name. It is marked as follows:
AWARDED
(blank)
BY THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT
FOR PATRIOTIC SERVICE
IN BEHALF OF THE LIBERTY LOANS
MADE FROM CAPTURED
GERMAN CANNON
It measures appox. 1-3/16" wide and is in excellent, almost new condition.
It is also unusual in that it still has its ribbon.
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