This is a miniature Navy Good Conduct Medal, originally instituted in AD 1884 and redesigned in AD 1896 into its enduring form.
The obverse features a full-rigged ship in its centre, sailing to the right, with the name ‘Constitution’ inscribed below. This central medallion is encircled by a rope knotted at the base and rests upon a naval anchor, with its stock visible above and flukes below. An anchor chain delineates the outer rim of the medal, with the words ‘United States’ positioned between the chain and the medallion, whilst the word ‘Navy’ is inscribed across the stock of the anchor. The reverse features the raised inscription ‘Fidelity Zeal Obedience’ around its outer edge, leaving a blank central field for the recipient’s name and award details. While early iterations suspended from a straight bar clasp, contemporary examples utilise a standard ring suspension. The ribbon, initially brilliant red, has evolved to a dark magenta.
The current design was adopted at the suggestion of Commodore Winfield Scott Schley, Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting and a distinguished veteran of the Spanish–American War. The composition closely mirrors the insignia of the Naval Veterans of the Civil War Association. Second or subsequent conferrals of this decoration were once indicated by plain, rounded clasps featuring a rope-patterned border, engraved with the vessel’s name on the front and the Continuous Service Certificate number on the reverse; these clasps have since been superseded by the authorisation of a star for each subsequent award.
A Navy Department General Order issued on 21 November AD 1884 initially authorised this updated incarnation as the Good Conduct Badge, which was officially renamed the Good Conduct Medal by a directive dated 26 April AD 1896. This decoration is conferred upon enlisted personnel for three years of continuous active service marked by above-average conduct and proficiency. To qualify, the individual recommended must maintain a record free from sick misconduct, court-martial convictions, and no more than a single non-judicial punishment within the given three-year period.
物件編號: M474-6
年代: 公元 1896-2025 年
材質: 銅合金
來源: 美國私人收藏 2025
這是一枚海軍版的良好品行獎章，公元1184年創設，公元1896年改制至今。
其正面中央是一艘向右航行的全装备帆船，船隻下方刻有名稱「Constitution」（憲法號）。圓形獎章核心由一圈在底部打結的繩索環繞，並襯於一個海軍錨之上（錨體上方的錨軸與下方的錨爪皆顯露於外）。一條錨鍊沿著獎章的外緣構成一個圓圈，錨鍊與核心圓章之間刻有「United States」字樣，而「Navy」字樣則刻在海軍錨的中央部分。背面的外緣刻有浮雕字母銘文「Fidelity Zeal Obedience」（忠誠、熱忱、服從），中央留白區域則用以刻上獲獎者的姓名及其他授獎細節。早期的獎章懸掛於直條銘牌（straight bar clasp）上；如今則懸掛於常規的圓環（ring）上。其綬帶最初為鮮紅色，現已更改為深洋紅色（dark magenta）。
現行設計源於海軍裝備與徵募局（Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting）局長溫菲爾德·斯科特·謝利准將（Commodore Winfield Scott Schley，以美西戰爭名將聞名）的建議。與「內戰海軍退伍軍人協會」（Naval Veterans of the Civil War Association）的徽章非常相似。此獎章的第二款或後續獎項，曾一度以帶有圓角的素面銘牌（clasps）來表示。銘牌邊緣帶有繩紋設計，上面刻有服役船艦的名稱，背面則刻有連續服務證書（Continuous Service Certificate）編號。現已停用此類銘牌，改為每獲頒一次後續獎項，即可准予配戴一顆星徽。
