Albany, NY Spanish-Amer. War Medal

On the OMSA forum a question was asked about what kind of ribbon the Albany, NY Span.-Am. Medal was issued on. In doing the research on this medal I found some similarities between medals and coins that some may find interesting. As with coins there are often pattern issues before the final design is approved. In this case there is a silver plated white metal version and there is also a proof silver version marked “Sample” on the edge. It is not hard to imagine who got the silver versions. Kind of like the aluminum cent patterns that went missing in our congress back in the early 1970’s. In any event the issued version was a good looking bronze medal suspended from a pin back broach without a ribbon.