Southern Cross of Honor. Bronze two-piece commemorative badge. Pin bar unmarked. Approx. 1 3/8 x 2 in. 

Obverse features a name bar, left unengraved, where a Confederate soldier's name would have gone; the words "UNITED / DAUGHTERS / CONFEDERACY / TO THE U.C.V." on each end of the Maltese cross; and a central design with a wreath of laurels surrounding the Battle Flag of the Army of Tennessee. Reverse features "PATENTED / CHARLES W. CRANKSHAW / ATLANTA"  stamped on the name bar; the words "SOUTHERN / CROSS / OF / HONOR" on the edges of the cross; and another laurel wreath in the center, this time surrounding the phrase "DEO / VINDICE / 1861 / 1865". 

A Southern Cross of Honor that was intended for a Confederate veteran but was never presented. These medals would have been awarded to a living veteran by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in recognition of loyal and honorable service to the South. It could be bestowed upon any branch of the Confederate military, and at least 78,761 were awarded. 

The Southern Cross of Honor was proposed to the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1898 by Mary Ann Cobb Erwin, daughter of Confederate politician Howell Cobb. When the idea was finally perfected, the UDC bestowed the award not only to veterans, but also to descendants of deceased Confederate soldiers. In honor of her work, Mary Ann's husband, Judge Alexander S. Erwin, was the first recipient of the Southern Cross of Honor on 26 April 1900. The medal was awarded to veterans and descendants until 1959. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics, Militaria] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges, Ribbons]