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Medal Name: Saving Life from the Perils of the Sea
Approval: Act of Congress
OBVERSE
LIFE SAVING MEDAL OF THE SECOND CLASS * UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. *
A female figure hovering in the air, and saving a man from the deep.
REVERSE
IN TESTIMONY OF HEROIC DEEDS IN SAVING LIFE FROM THE PERILS OF THE SEA.
Within a wreath of laurel: ACT OF CONGRESS JUNE 20th, 1874
Vacant space for the name of the recipient
BACKGROUND
Act of Congress Instituting Life Saving Medals
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to cause to be prepared medals of honor, with suitable devices, to be distinguished as Life-Saving Medals of the first and second class, which shall be bestowed upon any persons who shall hereafter endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavoring to save lives from perils of the sea, within the United States, or upon any American vessel:
Provided, That the medalof the first class shall be confined to cases of extreme and heroic daring, and that the medal of the second class shall be given in cases not sufficiently distinguished to deserve the medal of the first class:
Provided also, That no award of either medal shall be made to any person until sufficient evidence of his deserving shall have been filed with the Secretary of the Treasury and entered upon the records of the Department.
Approved June 20, 1874.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)