Beschreibung:

Commemorative medal in 14 karat gold with 14 diamonds and one synthetic ruby, approx. 40 mm. dia., suspended from bale, presented to Lieutenant Colonel William Lewis Garcia of the 14th Regiment, New York State Militia, likely in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his enlistment in the New York National Guard, 1911. Obverse with spread-winged eagle surmounting olive and oak branches and holding a maltese cross shield with letters spelling out "NYNG" on the four sides, and with diamond-encrusted "14" at center surrounded by circular border with legend reading, "BAPTIZED BY FIRE." Reverse engraved, "Lieut. Colonel Wm Lewis Garcia / May 14th / 1911," and stamped for Dieges & Clust, New York. William Lewis Garcia (b. 1867) was born to Irish and Spanish parents in New York City and joined the New York National Guard on May 14, 1886. In 1892, as part of a detachment of the 14th Regiment, New York Infantry, Garcia assisted in maintaining the peace during a cholera outbreak and quarantine near Fire Island. He enlisted as a captain in Company D of that regiment in May of 1898, during the Spanish-American War, and subsequently mustered out in October of that year. He is listed as a mechanical engineer in military records and census files for the state of New York. Dieges & Crust Jewelers was established in 1898 by Colonel Charles Dieges and Prosper Clust. The company was responsible for making numerous important military and award medals including the Spanish-American War medal, the 1904 Olympic medal, and the Medal of Honor, and it even cast the Heisman trophy upon its creation in 1935. Condition: 0.14 cttw, 31.6 dwt. Medal with surface scratches and general wear.