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Interesting silver round error.It says fine copper.

 

Woodlawn&Southern motor Coach

 

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Nice stuff guys! I have a ton of medals here. Just got this one the other day... Love my marrianne's

 

another ..

 

Couple from today

 

Not sure I why it won't post above

 

Civil War token.

 

I thought some of you would be interested in an update on this death plaque.

William Benjamin Reynolds proved to be a unique hit on the databases. He was a Private soldier in the 1st Battalion the Rifle Brigade. He was lost, presumed killed in action, at the Battle of Ypres on 15th July 1915. (His body was never found.) He was 38 and had served since the very beginning of the war making him eligible for the 1914 Star (Mons Star) as well as the standard War and Victory medals. He is recorded on the Menin gate memorial at Ypres.

He left a widow Mary, and possibly children though they are not mentioned explicitly in the records. It seems likely he had been a regular soldier before the start of the conflict to be so old and get into action so quickly.

I went back to the Charity shop that found it to tell them all this. The plaque had been donated in a bag of mostly rubbish, with no details of the donator recorded. The first sorter of the bags had thrown the plaque into the scrap metal crate! Surprisingly it was a teenage assistant who spotted it there and brought it to the manager's attention.

I have to admit both I and the manager were not entirely dry-eyed as we discussed the sadness of this man's final memento being discarded so casually.

 

Well done researching this medal's history @PaddyB ! Just curious - is this one staying in your collection?

 

Sadly not. I made up my mind early to restirct my collection to coins - predominantly British and as far back as I can go.

If that was an indirect enquiry as to whther it was for sale - it has already gone to an ardent collector of these things, showing me a small profit on the purchase and research. Now at least I know it will be looked after and respected.

 

No, I was just curious. I'm glad it's in good hands.

 

That's a wonderful story about the history of your medal, Paddy. So sad that his life ended in war, and that he was apparently forgotten by family and friends. It's very interesting that a teenager was the one to recognize the importance of it. Says something positive about our young people, doesn't it.

I don't know about you, Paddy, but when I manage to attribute a counterstamp or shed some light on something like this, I feel as though I've "resurrected" someone who's been forgotten by history. These things get me emotional as well. Thanks to you, William Reynolds is no longer a forgotten man. Well done, Paddy!

Bruce

 

Yes - very much all that. Sad his family forgot him (or maybe they just died out?). Great that it was a youngster who spotted the relevance of the thing. And for me great satisfaction to have resurrected this man's life and put him back in the honour he deserves.

I hope I can do more of the same!

 

The teenage king, Edward VI. Copper medal, 1852, 58mm by P. Hollins.

The obverse of this prize medal is from BHM #2502, Tercentenary of the Foundation of Birmingham Grammar School.