A coin collectors nightmare but a treasure to me

Vlad, after the United States was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, there lines around the block from every recruitment office for men to enlist. My dad was already in the 45th Infantry Division National Guard when the U S entered the war. Mostly boys from farms and the reservations who had joined for something to do on weekends. But they became the most formidable force the wrold has seen. The actions of young people who stepped up when needed were beyond all expectations. That is why they are called the "Greatest Generation". They were, and that is a fact.

 

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When I was in the U.S. Navy ' spooning ' quarters was one way of passing time between your everyday duties and standing watch. I was never any good at it but some guys were craftsmen at it.
Oval_man you are exactly right about everyday guys serving their country then going about living again after WWII was all over. One of these heroes lives near me. He served in the 8th Army Airforce too. He flew on 50 missions in the same B24 heavy bomber as a radioman and waist gunner.. I think that is incredible. He is the nicest gentleman you could ever meet. BLESS THEM ALL!

 

Well put Gary, and that goes for ALL the soldiers in ALL the counties who united to fight a madman.

 

I wouldn't see it as a nightmare - you can still see details of the original coin. Well unless it happened to be a keydate...

Honestly, I would be much happier to see common silver coins turned into jewelery rather than melted down.

 

My dad was in the real cavalry.

He rode a horse.

 

I think the ring is pretty cool. Its a great conversation peice.... I love odd things that like that. I have 1909 canadian dime that has a small hole (looks like it was punches threw) at the top where the forhead is. I put a jewlery loop threw it and have it on my charm bracelet. I have a lot of coins with bullet holes and things that, that my great grandfather kept them from when he was in WW2... they don't mean much in value... but they are pretty cool. Lol.

 

Greg

Yes, that is indeed a cool piece! I have seen similar, but what with it being your dad, that makes it extra special! How long did it take to make? Must have taken weeks of effort ...

 

I am sorry, but I never said my dad spoke of his accomplishments. These are facts I learned from reading his discharge papers and citations that accompanied his Silver and Bronze Stars. He never told me how he got wounded nor how he captured a German Officer's Lugar. But I do know from extensive reasearch that the Liberation of Dachau by the 45th seems to be written differently more recently.

A close friends' father was a stranded Marine after the first invasion of Guadacanal and only after I returned from Vietnam, would he discuss his experiences with me. I guess he felt those who never experienced jungle warfare probably couldn't understand it ?

Already, we see many omissions of important events of those times. History books have toned down the "Rape of Nanchang", "Bataan Death March" and other atrocities to spare the feelings of descendents of those who committed them.

Facts are lost with each generation, and as Texas John mentioned, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Many of us who collect coins have a deep interest in history, and our collections often are woven around that.

I applaud everything your father did as well as that of all our fathers and mothers who stood up when called as well as those brav e individulas who enlisted following 9/11. For I believe without this kind of patriotic people who are willing to give ALL, our nation would perish.

 

That's a sweet ring. I mean coin. Well both.

 

andyscouse,

I'll ask Dad the next time I talk with him. Dad has told me that his post surrender time in Berlin was slow and boring at times. I have several belts dad wove from parachute shroud lines,(another fad at the time). There were organized Divisional football games played in the '36 Olympic Stadium and practice glider flights to keep the men occupied, (in perfect weather and field conditions they were tricky to land...basically, a controlled crash). I have another ring Dad had a German jeweler fashion for him from melted silver coins. It has glider wings engraved on the top with Dad's initials and his girl at the time (my mother). Inside is engraved "Berlin '45" and there is a "800" stamp which tells me the jeweler watered down the coin silver a bit. I also have a bracelet Dad bought somewhere in England made with three pence coins dated between 1899 to 1920 (Victoria, Edward, & George).

Greg

 

Beautiful ring and awesome story behind it. You sound very proud of your dad. I appreciate his service to our country. Thank you for sharing him and his story of service with us.

 

I wasn't referring to your dad—except to thank him—but to your vague comment that "everything these guys did will soon be forgotten" as "people rewrite history for political correctness." Forgotten by whom? Who are these nefarious writers trying to distort the past for the sake of political correctness? Which facts are being "lost?"

The Rape of Nanking and Bataan Death March, as well as other aspects of that or any other war, can easily be researched online (which is where kids learn nowadays, like it or not) and elsewhere. The entire modern world is aware of the atrocities committed by the Germans and Japanese during WWII, no population more so than the very descendants of the people who committed them. Would you like to have either of those stigmas (the German or Japanese one) on your hands? Is it so wrong, then, to be sensitive to those new generations of Germans and Japanese who had nothing to do with that period in history and who are desperately trying to regain a sense of dignity and respect for their own historical culture? (I'm referring particularly to the Germans.) Remember that we bombed Dresden (my dad did), the country's cultural capital housing irreplaceable art and artifacts of the highest order, a sortie which resulted in enormous civilian casualties.

Are there differing points of view about these and all other moments of history? Of course there are, but the thrust of the narrative remains intact (built, as you say, on facts). War is Hell and no culture or nation can wash its hands of despicable acts. Let's not forget this history either lest we be doomed to repeat it.

By the way, technically, calling any generation "the Greatest" is opinion and not fact, no matter how many of us share the opinion. That the Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Superbowls is a fact; calling them "the Greatest Football Team" would be opinion.

This is a coin forum so I'd better cease or feel the wrath of the mods . There is more that could be discussed, obviously, and I have the sense we'd probably ultimately agree more than disagree (we come from the same culture), but this is not the place.

 

It's called 'spooning' and you can buy them from several spooners on eBay.
My son (19) made his out of a 1964 Kennedy half, and it turned out great.

 

http://www.teamdroid.com/archives/2005/04/27/how-to-make-a-coin-ring/

EDIT:
I don't think this article tells you, but find and mark dead center on the coin before you do anything to it.
Do not drill the hole in center until you are done with the tapping (spooning).
Also, always tap lightly. If you make just ONE ding too hard or off center, it can fold the edge over unevenly, and you cannot come back from that. My son ruined 2 coins with just one hit too hard before getting it right with his 3rd coin. The coins must be 90% silver as well. Quarters work for a petite lady's or child's ring. Halves work best for everyone else, but I have seen dollars turned into large rings for large rings that fit large hands.

 

I own a ring made from a 1947 half. I just want everyone to know, If you acquire one, it will wear smooth in less than a year. The interior stays pretty much intact, but the outside wears very fast. My ring is completely smooth, but I can still see the date on the inside.

 

Wow!! what a great piece of history

 

Problem resolved...


Greg

 

I think you are refering to a ring made via the folding method, that leaves details on the outside.
Spooning leaves no detail on the outside. It can either be left with a 'hammer-like' finish, or polished smooth.
The other method of making a coin ring involves drilling a hole in a coin and folding it over a metal shaft, like a ring sizer.
That leaves coin detail exposed to the outside and the ring looks very different than a spooned one.

 

Making rings out of coins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfwiRmxajmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1ALkkF-fw