French WWI Victory Medal, 1914–1918

France's Victory Medal from the First World War, awarded to those who served in the Great War of 1914 to 1918.

On the front, a winged Victory stands with her arms raised. Victory figures are rarely shy, and this one is no exception. The reverse carries the "RF" of the French Republic and the inscription La Grande Guerre pour la Civilisation 1914–1918, which is about as French a way to summarize four years of war as there is.

The bronze has aged to a warm, even brown, with the soft wear of a piece that was kept and handled rather than locked away. It comes on its suspension ring, without the original ribbon. It's easy to wear on a chain or a length of grosgrain, or to frame alongside a family photograph.

Details

• Origin: France
• Material: Bronze
• Date: Commemorating 1914–1918
• Diameter: 2"
• Without ribbon
• Condition: Antique, with natural patina and wear consistent with age