This medal was chosen as the 31st issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The medal's obverse bears a medallic adaptation of Rosenthal's famous photograph of the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. To right, IN TRIUMPH / SHALL WAVE.
The reverse bears truncated sword with hilt up over victor's palm. To left and right, FOR CONQUER - WE MUST; at lower edge, © - CHAMBELLAN SC.
In his "Message from the Artist" Chambellan wrote:
"One of the basic purposes of the medal is to commemorate important events... the soul-stirring group of the flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima has captured for all time one of these memorable historic flashes."
The medal measures 73mm in diameter. The Medallic Art Company of New York reportedly struck 1,501 medals in bronze and 60 (out of 700 authorized) in silver.