bagerap

Still haven't found my BHM (or my spare glasses come to think of it). Does this fellow have a BHM ref? Thanks, Bob

Myself, I doubt the rarity purely on the grounds that it was designed to be sold to schools and most of the attendance medals I own or am aware of have large populations. However, I can find no mention of it in Davis' Tickets and Passes of Great Britain and Ireland, so maybe just this once, I've struck lucky. Hope your health's improving Pat, I found that retirement was the cause of most of my ailments so it's possible that I'll go back to work. Of course, that'll mean even later nights at the laptop just trying to keep up. bob

When I first saw this reverse, I hoped it might be special: and with thoughts of BHM# 996, I turned it over: Close, but no cigar. The "Reward Of Merit" puts me in mind of later Victorian school attendance medals, but assuming that this was made by Kettle, what was its purpose? Bob

Welcome Barry. Yes there are quite a few of us with a token habit. That's a nice grouping of farthings you have, makes me realise how few I own of that size. From memory I have Sparrow, Albert Smith and possibly 2 or 3 Norwich farthings. I'll see what I can dig out. Bob

You've hit on an interesting sub genre with this Elkington medal. They sold the reverse to all comers. I've owned this medal with any number of hotels and businesses on the back, but by far my favourite was the Union Castle line:

Thanks Bill. What I probably didn't make clear earlier is that in one or two places I can see the silvering showing through. I'm wondering if this was varnished when the piece was fresh or after it had been around a while. There are a few EKs which obviously predate the coating so all in all I may be talking myself out of it.

The thing is that it looks very much like furniture varnish or shellac and is quite thick. There's chipping on the edge which enables me to see. So, if the definition is good now, what would it be like if I could successfully remove the gunk?

Peace of Paris 1814 BHM 798 White metal. White metal? Yes, I bought it from a picture thinking it to be bronze but it has been varnished or lacquered with something very very dark. The scan has been lightened as much as possible. The question is do I clean it and how? First thought is thinners, followed if necessary with acetone. Your suggestions, as always, are welcomed. Bob

Thank you, I'm pleasantly surprised. Cost less than $5.00, so not much to lose either way.

I mainly collect medals & exonumia, but I can read a certain amount of Russian. I saw this coin advertised as an unknown token with a terrible picture and took a chance. I expect it to be fake, and in hand it looks very odd. 3.7 gr, 20 mm milled edge ////////// Your views are appreciated. Bob

Didn't realise that I already had one: very grubby though.

BTW, that "you" is general; not meant for you Pat.

"George Simcox active from 1791, a buckle & toy maker Birmingham." A definition of TOY you may not be aware of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_toy_industry

I have a weakness for the Raj, so.............

Dave, I've answered this elsewhere but I'll repeat it here as it touches on what Bill wrote. This Eton Attendance medal was worn as intended: This one has never been pierced and thus never worn: It's in far better condition but does it have the same connection? I feel that pieces like this appear to have been disregarded by the original recipients, I'd much rather have something that's been used. And no, I've yet to work out what to do about pesky rings still attached

Thanks once again Pat. My brief glimpse at a friend's copy of The World's Show had me hooked. It's ordered and at £15.00, a bargain.

Could? I may have to start photographing. It'll take some time.

So many fine medals come from this exhibition that I sometimes overlook a potential goody. This one had a reasonable photo on ebay but it's so much better in hand. All the silvered finish is intact and pristine. These are scans, so don't show just how good it is. Time to brush up on my photography skills. I was unable to find it in a quick browse through a borrowed copy of The World's Show by Leslie Lewis Allen (and there's a book definitely going on my shopping list) and my BHM is still on the missing list. Below the truncation is W. S. Taylor London. All ideas welcomed. Bob

Thank you so much Frank. I had thought it to be a fair bit later. The colour must be due to some chemical action of the soil. Bob

This belongs to a farmer, and he's family so I vaguely believe him. This came from a ploughed field 35 years ago and has only been washed in cold water. I can't think that it's gold, but it hasn't changed colour in all that time. 27 mm, 1.2 gr Any ideas?

Thanks Pat. I was aware of the version with the Latin inscription, but not that it was by Kirk. Also I'm reasonably certain that mine is bronze. Reluctantly I confess my ignorance of MI. I say reluctance, because last time I asked a question like this it ended with me buying the complete BHM. (Which I don't regret for a minute, except that it's still lost somewhere among the moving boxes) Bob

I'm having a hard time with this one: AE, 42mm. I habitually assume with medals of this type that a silver or gold original exists, but no luck so far.

Many people do collect these prayer coins, including I believe one on this forum. Yours is a good find as not too many small coins have prayers engraved. The majority are prayer medals or medallions and as such minted or struck.

Until a few moments ago I was unaware I had this. It came from a collection of grot I bought a few years ago for one specific item. Going through the debris just now this surfaced. William Beckford, but with traces of silvering: I know that silver medals were offered, but not silvered. Would this have been done at a later time?

There does exist a frosted finish VIP presentation coin, again limited to around 30, but I've not seen one for sale for many years. From memory one reached around $AUS 3,000 six or seven years ago.