Who knows what this medal is?

I have a chance to pick this up at a local auction for 3$ does anyone know what it is?

Thanks
Attachment 256528

Freemason's. I don't know it's purpose though.

It appears to be a Masonic Knights Templar Order of Malta medal.

PB

So not military? If not thanks!!

I think that medal was only given to Masons that had served in the military, so in the Masons, it is a military medal.

An Order emphasizing the lesson of faith. This Order requires the Mason to profess and practice the Christian faith. The pass degree of the Mediterranean Pass, or Knight of St. Paul prepares the candidate for the Order by introducing the lesson and example of the unfearing and faithful martyr of Christianity. The Order is centered on allegorical elements of the Knights of Malta, inheritors of the medieval Knights Hospitaller.

http://www.yorkrite.org/Degrees/

I stand corrected. It sure does appear to be the Order of Malta medal.

Order of Malta Medal for one of the degrees in Knight Templars - the York Rite branch of Masonry. I demitted years ago as I didn't have the time to put into it like I should have.

FYI - After you join and go through the Blue Lodge, where you go through three Degrees and become a Master Mason - you can go on to either of the two branches of Masonry if you wish to (or both) - the Scottish Rite and when you are done you become a 32nd Degree Mason - or the York Rite where. when done. you become,e a Knight Templar. A 32nd Degree Mason is equal to a Knight Templar - just a different branch of Masonry. It used to be that you had to be either a 32nd Degree <ason or a Knight Templar before you could join the Shrine and become,e a Shriner. In most jurisdictions now. all you need to be is a Master Mason in order to become,e a Shriner. The Shriners support all of the Shriner's Hospitals which offer free medical care for those children who meet the criteria for having physical disabilities or burned children.

This medal is often incorrectly identified with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) - organization for Untion Civil War Veterans. Often times referred to as a "Mourning Medal". I have collected GAR as well as Civil War for the psst 55 years and I have yet to have someone show me actual documentation as to this medal actually being associated with the GAR.

The Knights of Malta medals are not high priced collectible items - often times you can run across them for just a couple of bucks. A worth medal to display with a Masonic collection however.

But please don't get the idea they're all inexpensive baubles of little monetary value. Sometimes a piece of gold is just painted pot metal, and sometimes it is just what it appears to be.

https://www.ebay.com/i/222451551738?...ASABEgLs0vD_Bw Close but not the same