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    Bilco

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    Posts posted by Bilco

    1. My latest acquisition is this - something a bit different. Is it a coin or is it a medal?

       

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      Laslo has it in his book as “So-Called Dollar” Type 2. It’s made of copper, and measures 36mm in diameter. The planchet is thinner than the Type 2 vic, and there is no suspension. The seller and Laslo both give a reference number of HK-902, referring to a book called “So-Called Dollars” by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen. The contents of this book are viewable on-line and the page for this item is at https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/World_War_I_Victory_Medals.html

       

      The reference also mentions the same item in bronze with the reference number HK-901. I have seen a few suspension-less bronze US vics offered on eBay, but always assumed that they were Type 2 with the suspension removed!

       

      Laslo says that some 5-20 of the copper version are known and 51-250 of the bronze version. The obverse and reverse are identical to the official medal, so it is assumed that the official dies were used to produce them, but the manufacturer is not known. The quality of the striking is very good. The edge looks uniformly smooth.

       

      In 2005 a query was raised on the blog E-Sylum (which appears no longer to be around) of what was thought might be a ‘trial piece’, made in copper (The E-Sylum: Volume 8, Number 41, September 25, 2005, Article 16). The reply, from a gentleman called Dick Johnson, was rather scathing, and called the piece “junk”! He seems to link it to the firm of Aronson of Newark, who got a government contract to produce some of the Official vics, but their output was said to be of poor quality.

       

      These pieces have the name “So-Called Dollar” as this is the name collectors give to exposition, commemorative and monetary medals of a similar size to a silver dollar coin.

       

      Whatever it is, it’s an interesting addition to my vic collection

       

      Recently, a ‘solid-gold’ vic was offered on eBay – BIN $49,500.00. It had the suspension as normal, but had an HK ref of 902a, as if it was a so-called dollar – it isn’t in the book. The seller said that it had 22K on the edge, and it’s the only one of its type - ‘not even the Smithsonian has one ...’ Unfortunately, he didn’t ship to the UK ….

      https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/989589/interesting-sc-on-ebay-of-all-places

       

      Bill

       

    2. SAI could be South African Infantry, or South African Irish Regiment, although the National Archives site show the abbreviations for these units differently  https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiwicjUtZbaAhXHe8AKHag0ALYQFggnMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalarchives.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Frecords%2Fabbreviations-in-world-war-one-medal-index-cards-unit.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2F7XSDOgHy8GRlugku0bu-

      This source also shows a unit called Rhodesian South African Infantry Brigade, abreviation RHODNS. S.A.I. BGDE. This is a lot to get on the edge of a medal after number, rank and name, so may have been shortened to SAI?

      The link downloads a .pdf file.

      Bill

    3. The first medal in this group appears to be of French design, but it's with two Portuguese medals. Is it French or Portuguese - or something else??

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      The other medals are:

      The other two medals are:

      "Medalha Centenário do Marechal Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar, 1855 – 1955" or "Medalha Souza Aguiar"  in Bronze created by June 10, 1955 and ordered by the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, to commemorate the first centenary of the birth of Marechal Souza Aguiar.

      and

      Marine Rescue Silver award. Portuguese name: Philanthropy and Charity Medal of Relief Institute to Castaways. Issued by the Shipwreck Relief Institute (ISN), which is the Portuguese Institute for Lifesaving. Such awards are usually for rescue at sea and come in few variations and 3 classes. Originally established in 1908 and revised in 1913 with additional types. Presented here is award with inscription: 'Philanthropy - Charity'. Most wonderful decoration, rarely awarded in any class. 

      Bill

    4. Hi Lambert,

      Another possibility is a medal dedicated to Saint Cecilia, if your group is more related to music, it would be consistent with that.

      May I post the picture of the three medals on another fourm to see if there is any further identification?

      Bill

    5. Hi Lambert,

      Yes, the scene on the reverse of your medal has some diiferences to the ones at the Maritime Museum. The medal was made by Spink, and the Museum web site shows an example with a simple wire loop suspension  http://prints.rmg.co.uk/artist/27488/spink-son-ltd

      Maybe you should contact Spinksand ask if yours is one of theirs or a copy by someone. https://www.spink.com/departments/medals.asp

      Best wishes,

      Bill

    6. Just acquired, this Cuban-made Victory medal by Vilardebo y Riera. On the first page of this thread, first and second post, there is a group of medals posted by RobW, showing another example of this variety. It is shiny gilt, with a thin planchet, the obverse striking is shallow without a background to the figure, while on the reverse the lettering at the top is hard against the rim. Jim Michel's book classifies this version as Unofficial Type 2.

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      This one has a strange small suspension ring - possibly to go on a fob chain? I have sourced a replacement ring and a suitable ribbon to restore the medal.

      All comments welcome.

      Bill

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