This is a coin that was engraved Red Star Ship Lines. It’s from an 1813 silver 5 Francs so from France. It is worn but somewhat readable. The reverse is where the excitement is. Around the rim it reads “S.S. FRIESLAND 8-21-31 ‘96”. In the center is carved “THE STORMY PETREL” This is a neat piece.
Now that is a very interesting item! First of all, you've got an undeniably historic host coin, and then, 83 years later, another layer of history added with that engraving! That is a very special- and perhaps unique- piece. I found some on the S.S. Friesland here and here. It also seems a ship by that name got mentioned in a Sherlock Holmes story, although that one was described as a Dutch ship.
I don't know what "The Stormy Petrel" refers to, but obviously it references something personal for the person who had the coin engraved. Something that happened on that voyage that took place aboard the S.S. Friesland from August 22-31, 1896. Yes, in the literal sense, a stormy petrel is a bird. But in this context, I strongly suspect it is referring to something else. A nickname for a person? The title of a play performed on board during the voyage? A song? That part I don't know. You wouldn't create a souvenir of the voyage like that and then just randomly stick a bird name in the center of the engraving, like "seagull" or "pelican". It's a metaphor for something.
Same thing modern engravers (like the folks who carve Hobo nickels) use. An awl-like tool of some sort, I'd imagine.
I'd guess August 22-31, 1896 were the dates of a transatlantic voyage, and 9 days seems about right for that at the time. "The Stormy Petrel" is a historical romance book written in 1892. Perhaps someone was commemorating the book they read on the voyage? The fact that it's in quotes implies a title and not the bird. I couldn't find anything indicating that the ship was nicknamed after the bird, which was my first thought.
Aha! Yes, I suspected it referred to a song or play, or- as you just revealed- a book. Thank you. Fits the time period. And yes, I figured it was probably a transatlantic voyage.
You posted while I was typing. I type slow. I also looked up storms in the Atlantic - there were some major hurricanes that year but none fit the time frame.
I absolutely love love tokens like this, which have so much information- clues- on them. Some of them have led me down some very interesting research avenues. I've done articles on a number of them.
Thank you all for the replies. You’re thinking along the same lines as I am. I didn’t say anything as I really don’t know.
