On the reverse, a truncated arm holding the flaming torch of Liberty; meant to signify that though suffering a military defeat, the unswerving determination to final victory is still upheld. To the right, in four lines, "FOR / FREEDOM / WITH / HONOR" and beneath it, in a row, six small stars. This last legend ~as suggested by an American genhlemau who was, at the tame, very closely related to the work of the committee. The six stars indicate the six Provinces of Cuba; Pinsr del Rio, La Habana, Matan- zas, Las Villas, C~maguey and Oriente~ because the Brigade was composed of men frc~ every part of the country. Above, "2506th BRIGADE," and below, ~PLAYA GIRON . CDBA . APRIL 1961." The legends were requested by the Con~mittee to be in ~glish (~xcept the official motto) because of the historical and traditional friendship between the peoples of Cuba and the United States. Playa Giron is the actual beach in the Bay of Pigs (Bahia de Cocbinos) where the landing took place. The medals were sold at $ 25.00 each and before being offered for sale to the general public, those persons who had relatives among the imprisone~ soldiers were given preference of purchase. The name of each buyer was carefully recorded ~ith the corresponding number of the medsl purchased, and except in special cases, p~rchase of more than one medal per person was discouraged. The medals were finally advertised to the general public only once; and a very limited number were presented as gifts to certain dignitaries. Medal No. I was reserved by the Committee to be given to President John F. Kennedy, and No. 2 was given to the Brigadels Chaplain, Father Ciprlano CaverOo Among those who received medals were: 205 Governor IIughes of New Jersey 206 Governor La~Tence of Pennsylvania 208 Governor Dempsey of Connecticut 251 Governor Tawes of ~ryland 295 Governor Notre of Rhode Island 311 Governor Volpe of ~Zessachusetts 232 General Lucius Clay 2~0 Cardinal Cushing 385 James Farley 401 Herbert Lehman f~17 Rev. James Pike ~19 General E. Quesada ~ Princess Radzi~ill ~ General C.R. Smith ~ General D. Spivey 131 l,~j-Gen. L. Wade 133 Vice-A~iral R. ~itehead 434 Ed Sullivan In addition to the presentation to other prominent sponsors, Attorney General Robert Kennedy also received one. The Medallic Art Company agreed to safekecp the unsold pieces for one year after the date of issuance. The Committee had at first decided to order the melting of those medals ~ich had not been sold, but later deci- ded to keep ~h~m in custody of one of their members, to be disposed of at some future date, in a ms~mer still undecided. The dies, damaged to pre- vent future striking, were delivered to ze as previously noted. This, briefly, is the story of the "Bey of Pigs" i~dal, though perhaps the title of these notes border on a misnomer; for to the veterans of that invasion, ’Playa Giron’ and not ’Bay of Figs~ is the n&me the~~. refer to. Lastly, it may be that the resl reason why I decided to ~rite about this subject is my interest in recording accurately the numismatic infer- marion on the matter. Not once, but quite a few times, I have heard this medal referred to as a commemorative of the invasion, or to honor each veteran of that campaign, and this is not so. ~st likely, someday, those other ones ~ay be struck too.