| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,812 |
|
|
New Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
726 Posts |
I while I live,,, ............For life it is not nessasary to live, but to sail...Some roman fool who stole food in Africa and sailed it to Rome.....A real navy man....  sail even if a storm.....  Edited by persistnt
02/19/2014 3:53 pm
|
|
New Member
 United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Hi is that the translation that is on the coin token or medal not actually sure what it is
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16832 Posts |
The key, and the style of architecture on the building on the other side, both indicate to me the German city of Bremen. The pics aren't quite big enough to let me read the text on both sides. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
New Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
  I have made them a bit bigger it won't let me go bigger than this for size |
|
Forum Dad
United States
24163 Posts |
Sure it will, crop down to the coin.
|
|
New Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
  Sorry try this |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
I agree with SAP, I have coins from the German city of Bremen with that same key... I see it has a date of 1917, perhaps a Notgeld issue?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
I also recognized the Bremen key, but was about to change my mind, as the phrase "grad dör" to either side of the building wasn't anything I recognized as German. It's not High German, but Westphalian dialect, for "gerade durch," or "Straight Through!" This was the rallying cry of the Westphalian folk hero Klas Avenstaken. It seems to have become a catchphrase of regional pride by the 19th century, much like if you hear "Laissez le bon temps roulez!" you're probably in New Orleans. In the early 20th century there was a Boy Scout troop in Bremen by the name of "Grad Dör!"
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
And I found the building! It was formerly the headquarters of Bremen coffee tycoon Ludwig Roselius (and currently is a museum displaying his art collection). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig...elius_MuseumThe R Co on the reverse certainly stands for Roselius & Co.  Edited by philadelphian
02/20/2014 7:50 pm
|
|
Moderator
Australia
16832 Posts |
Good sleuthing, Philadelphian! All that remains, then, is to figure out what the item is supposed to be. It doesn't have a value stated on it so I'd assume it's not notgeld. Perhaps an "advertising piece", like the American "Store card" tokens.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
The legend, attributed to the Roman Consul Pompey, an order to sailors to deliver food despite a storm, is "To sail is important; to live is not important." Ludwig Roselius' sister Elizabeth died in 1917; if I could just pin down that she died on July first, that, I think would wrap it up.
|
|
New Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Thank you all so much for all your help
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
As it turns out, the Latin quote from Pompey was inscribed over the gate to the Bremen Seefahrt (Seafarer's Home) since its founding in 1545, and it became an unofficial motto of Bremen as a world shipping port. Only the date left to figure out.
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 1,812 |
|
Posted 02/19/2014 4:13 pm
