The World War I Centennial Silver Medals were issued in conjunction with the congressionally authorized World War I Centennial Silver Dollar. The obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) designs of these medals honor each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces active in World War I.
The obverse design depicts a lifeboat from the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca heading out in heavy seas toward the torpedoed steamship Wellington.
The reverse design World War I-era Coast Guard emblem.