Gold Star Civil War Presenatation Medal?

[silverbar]

This is a piece that my stepfather gave to me awhile back. He inherited from a friend that passed away several years ago. He was a collector of civil and revolutionary war relics, but he did not give my stepdad any info on the item. The gold star has "AL" on the front and a design on the back. The typed insert reads: Gold star made of gold money and presented to Col. Michael L. Woods by his regiment the 46th Alabama. Its a two piece medal..kinda like a two piece button, a little larger than a US Quarter and appears to be handmade. I am not sure if it is legit or even made of gold. I can only go by the insert. It does not look tarnished. I did not clean it. Sorry about the poor pics from my camera. Has anyone ever seen one of these? Thanks in advance for any input that you may have.

HH

 

[GatorBoy]

Sounds like you have more than enough information to do a pretty good search a Gold star presented by military personnel would be a Medal of Honor it's the highest award they have.
The recipient would be considered a hero

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Well... anybody can type up a fictional label. But for the sake of discussion, let's follow what it says.
Col[onel] Michael L. Woods was indeed the commander of the Confederate 46th Alabama Infantry regiment, during the Vicksburg Campaign, until he was captured at the Battle Of Champion's Hill (also called Baker's Creek)on May 16, 1863.
46th Alabama Infantry - Vicksburg National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The label says the star is made of "gold money" -- which was 90% gold (21&1/2 karat gold). Take it to a jeweler who can test to see if it is really 90% gold -- instead of, for example, 75% gold (18 karat).

One good sign:
The fancy engraving and the lettering-style looks accurate to the reported time-period... instead of looking like it was done in Pakistan, where at lot of modernday fake "civil war relics" come from.

That being said, the extreme scarcity of gold money in the Confederacy during its war for Independence makes me think such an item would be more likely to have been presented to him by his regiment's surviving veterans well-after the war ended, during the UCV (United Confederate Veterans) era. I did some preliminary research for you, making sure that Col. Michael L. Woods survived the war. Apparently, he did. He was transferred to command of the consolidated 19th & 40th Alabama regiments in North Carolina on April 9th, 1865 (the day that Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army Of Northern Virginia).

I said "preliminary" research, because the rest of it is now up to you.

 

[silverbar]

Thanks for the help Gatorboy and for the research CannonballGuy. I guess that I will need to take it into a jeweler who can test it. Like you said and from I found Col. Michael L. Woods did survive the war. He passed away in 1911. You are right - anyone can type up a fictional label. I guess that I will never be able to authenticate it for sure. If anyone else has come across one of these. I welcome your comments.

 

[uglymailman]

I don't have quite the same thing but I do have this.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/timthemailman/100_1613.jpg
That's a pocket watch on extreme left for size.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/timthemailman/100_1619.jpg
This was my Step Grandfathers Grandfather. The area where he lived here in Mo. started Reunions in 1890's for Vets of the Unpleasantness between the States. I'm GUESSING this is what the medal was for. I think it's nickle.
Hope you have what you think you have. Good luck.

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Interesting. Pictures all look a bit blurry - even worse when pictures are supersized. With the importance and value of such an item I wonder why it appears to be cracked across the front? It's not like it was worn through battle, but however presented to him post-war correct? Also, is the star hollow or solid? As Cannonball Guy stated if it is in fact 90% high karat gold the value would be up there, historical wise would be an awesome item to posses.

 

[silverbar]

That is a neat medal uglymailman. I have another medal from a family member who lived in and fought for MO. It may be from those reunions as well. Thanks for sharing. If I can find it I will take some photos. Lifes A Garden: Yeah.. the pics are bad. It was hard to take good photos from the glare with my camera. The star is hollow. It does appear to have a hairline crack on the back, but I can't see any evidence that it was ever attached to anything. It may have been worn through battle, however like Cannonball said gold money was scare back then especially in the Confederacy. I only recently received it. If legit there is no telling how many hands the star has passed through in the last 100+ years. Thanks for your comments as well.