...here's another item I bought at the same antique shop yesterday. Looked like it was a German medal or token made of silver. I picked it up because of the high relief. I think it's three times thicker at the high points than the edge of the rim! It's about 35mm in diameter. I just noticed the rim is marked "SILBER 990".... so I guess it is silver. What is it? What's it worth? Thanks.
It seems to be a medal honouring the alliance between the Austrian and German empires against the `enemy' in 1914 (World War I) Obverse shows Franz Joseph 1 of Austria and Wilhelm II of Prussia, the german Chancellor (of `Kaiser Bill' fame) In the absence of any German speakers, I believe the inscription roughly translates (in concept at least) as "loyally united we strike our foes''. I honestly don't have a clue as to its market value, but i'd probably buy one if I saw it around the $15 mark.
The legend 'WELTKRIEG IM JAHRE 1914' translates to 'WORLD WAR IN THE YEAR 1914'.This medal is a historic one commemorating the alliance between Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany & Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary.It is also commemorating the establishment of the Central Powers,which included Bulgaria & Ottoman Turkey.
Ian,the Central Powers originated with the alliance between Kaiser Wilhelm II & Emperor Franz Josef, so I am guessing this it what it commemorates.I studied history at school,especially the history of the British Empire.
Aidan. Quite a few of us here have also had the priviledge of studying history at school, college, and / or university and not particularly restricted to the British Empire. This medal (rather obviously and succinctly) commemorates the alliance between the German and Austrian empires and nothing else. There is no evidence on the medal to signify otherwise. IMHO it would be a fairly safe bet to say that when that medal was struck, Turkey and Bulgaria were not at the forefront of its `raison d'etre'. Hence my question to you as to where you got the idea that the medal commemorated anything other than the alliance between Germany and Austria (? ).
Ian,that is true,but Germany & Austria-Hungary were looking for allies to oppose the Entente Cordiale,which not only included Great Britain & France.The Entente Cordiale also included Serbia, Montenegro,Czarist Russia,& Italy.Greece stayed neutral in World War I.
Aidan, the point I was making is that although there is (without a doubt) a connectivity (as in `knee bone's connected to the thigh bone' etc) with these factors, it would be erroneous to conclude that the medal concerned commemorates anything other than the German Austrian alliance.
Ian,point taken! What's the weather like over there in Scotland? Found any good commemorative Scots trading bank notes lately?
Weather here is suitable for those with webbed feet, and cold with it (but what;s new about that). Presumably the weather in NZ is beautiful with temperatures into the 20's just now? Where in NZ are you btw? Thankfully, I have managed to contain my addiction to bits of metal (coins and tokens of one sort or another), as such notes are thankfully not on my radar screen. I couldn't afford any more `interests'.
Ian,it has been very hot here in Wellington,NZ. I thought that you might have been collecting those commemorative 1 Quid notes,as the serial numbers are very distinctive in their prefixes.For example the Robert Louis Stephenson one has 'RLS' at the start of the number,whereas,the 2002 5 Quid has 'TQGJ' at the start of the number.
nice to see another scot on the forum, and a fifer at that.been to the lamas fair there a few times ian, im sure they still have that.well they have for about 500 years . us scots get everywhere hehe
that token carries a lot of history and for that is worth easy what you paid for it.is it silver or base metal ?
The edge is marked SILBER 990, so I think it's silver. The same place had a dozen other similar medals in the same price range. I usually stick to US coins, but I'll have to go back and take another look. Thanks again to everyone for all of the information.
Yes indeed, I have these and the Bell one. I also have a consecutive run of some seventy odd Scottish Parliament ones. It was a 100 wad but i've given quite a few away since I got them. Very unscotsman like of me. I've also got a few older notes from the early 1900's but all of these have more or less ended up with me by way of default rather than through my active pursuit of them. Ian
Yes indeed, Jock Thompson certainly got around in his day The tradition of the fair certainly remains strong in both St Andrews and in Kirkcaldy. Ian "Here's tae us. Wha's like us? Damn few....and they're ah deid!" ;-)
