Rare Illinois GAR Medal with Original Box Made of Melted Down Confederate Cannon

Rare Illinois GAR Medal – Made from Melted Confederate Cannon – With Original Box
 
Scarce and historically significant Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) medal  manufactured from metal melted down from a captured Confederate cannon. Such medals were produced as commemorative pieces symbolizing Union victory and post-war remembrance.
 
The medal features classic GAR iconography associated with the Grand Army of the Republic, the prominent Union veterans’ fraternal organization founded in 1866. Pieces made from repurposed Confederate artillery carry especially strong historical and symbolic appeal.
 
Notably, this example retains its original presentation box, which is rare as the medal itself. The combination of historical association, symbolic material origin, and original packaging makes this a highly desirable Civil War veterans’ item.