The World Wars

History of the Artifact The French Croix de Guerre (War Cross) is a military decoration first established in 1915 during World War I. It was created by the French government...

History of the Artifact This British World War II War Medal, officially known as the "War Medal 1939–1945", was a campaign medal instituted in 1945 to recognize full-time service in...

History of the Artifact The version of the British soldier’s button from World War I that features a lion and a unicorn is associated with the General Service button, rather...

History of the Artifact The Colonial Quarter Anna coin minted in India under George V was an important low-denomination currency used during British rule. These coins were issued between 1912...

History of the Artifact These beautiful buttons are decorated with the Imperial Tsarist Coat of Arms displaying the two-headed eagle and the mounted figure of St. George figure slaying the...

History of the Artifact The buttons worn by sailors of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II are small yet potent symbols of a once-formidable maritime power. Made of...

History of the Artifact During World War I, the German military—like other major powers engaged in the conflict—employed shrapnel-based munitions as part of their standard artillery arsenal. The term “shrapnel”...