Did you know that during the final year of World War II, on
February 19, 1945, United States Marines invaded the Pacific Island of Iwo
Jima? The island was barren with the exception of Japanese artillery, but the
United States saw it as essential to their strategy to win the war in the
Pacific. With control of Iwo Jima, the United States would be able to construct
airstrips and launch an attack on Japan, only 600 miles away. Perhaps the most famous
image of the invasion was taken atop Mount Suribachi as six men raised the
American Flag.
This same image is depicted on a medal
that Stack’s Bowers Galleries sold in 2012 for $805. The medal, struck in
silver, is one of 60 struck. It was quite large at 72.9 mm and 212.2 grams. If
you have any Numismatic Americana or Exonumia that you need information about
or are considering selling, contact the experts at Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Email us at consign@stacksbowers.com
and we will happily reply.
