USA Grand Army of the Republic Veterans Badge

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United States - Grand Army of the Republic Veterans Badge - c.1886-1949 (standard style with patent date). Introduced in 1869, the veteran’s membership badge was given to a solider or sailor who had an honorable discharge from the United States service, never borne arms against the Union and served between April 19, 1861 and August 20, 1866. It is constructed out of a die struck cannon bronze base that has been bronze washed. The obverse features a central Goddess of Liberty, with a soldier and a sailor shaking hands, above two kneeling children, who are all flanked by a flag and eagle and an ax and a bundle of rods for union. This is all surrounded by: “Grand Army of the Republic 1861-Veterans-1866”, on a five-pointed star which has, on the arms: emblems of different arms of service: bugle for infantry, cannon for artillery, muskets for marines, swords for cavalry and an anchor for sailors. To the top is a bar, which holds an American flag, which is attached to: an American eagle with outstretched wings clutching a saber in front of two crossed cannons and a mound of cannon balls. The reverse of the badge features multiple emblems to the star, the reverse of the flag and to the top, it reads: “Pat. May 4, 1886 June 22, 1886”, on top of a pot above a fire and it has a soldered-on pin, hinge and catch assembly. The edge is not numbered. It measures 1 13/16 inches wide by 3 1/8 inches tall.