1861 Bombardment of Fort Sumter Medal. Type I. HK-11c. Rarity-7. Copper. MS-65 RB (NGC).34 mm. Light steel and golden-brown patina to both sides, the surfaces retain plenty of original mint color in vivid pinkish-orange. Examples of this type were struck by unknown sources soon after the bombardment and eventual surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederate forces in Charleston, South Carolina, an incident that touched off the Civil War. The fort was heroically held for two days by 75 Union troops under the command of Major Robert Anderson while besieged by 8,000 South Carolina troops and heavy artillery bombardment under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard. Remarkably, there were no serious casualties on either side, though that would not be the case over the next four years.
