Most Coin collectors find Medallions interesting too, so hopefully I am not to far off topic posting this! Historical Medallion - membership badge for the Beggar's Benison Society of Anstruther in Scotland, which was in existence from 1732 to 1836. A Scottish equivalent of the H*ll fire club - a libertine society into drink and free sex! They made no excuses for their behaviour - the only thing they were more reticent about was their tax avoidance schemes. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar's_Benison for more info on the society and its practices. My apologies for the blurry image - I can only scan coins and medals, and when they do not lie flat they come out blurry. One side shows Adam and Eve with the caption "Be Fruitful and Multiply". The other Venus and Adonis with a cupid, and the caption "Lose no Opportunity". Measures about 1.5 inches in length and is in Silver with a lovely tone. I keep it in case the club is re-opened and I can get in with this old badge! Come on - someone top that... Paddy
I don't know Paddy, since it's been closed for 175 years or so you're going to have to be real patient for the free membership. It sounds like a good organization to be in though so you never know. Bruce
Those are an example of the surprising paradox of a really repressive religious era - and one that except save a few medallions and some anecdotal evidence nobody would even know existed. The truly phenomenal aspect is that many of the practitioners of hedonistic activities were people in the upper echelons of society that had Fleet St. tabloids existed during the time would have fallen ingratiatingly.
My wife found one of these medallions here in north Wales whilst out metal detecting.Are they rare and have they any value?
