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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,776 |
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Valued Member
United States
205 Posts |
Hi All, Can you help ID this token, never seen anything like it and searches have come up blank so far.. The only lettering states Sterling. Obviously worn... I am more interested in age/history than value. Thanks.   
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Sacred Heart of Jesus is one clue. Possibly St. Christopher on the reverse. Communion token is another clue. The amount of wear is intriguing. Beyond this info I haven't anything else to offer. Except... the lack of an inscription might be an indication that the recipient of this token was a child or otherwise could not read. The images would convey the meaning.
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Valued Member
 United States
205 Posts |
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Moderator
 Australia
16850 Posts |
It's certainly depicting the same two figures in the same standard poses.
Determining the precise origin and age of religious medals is usually very difficult, as they often bear no name of the designer or manufacturer and there is frankly nothing to stop a prolific medal-maker from re-striking and re-issuing a popular design over many decades, or a medal maker in one city copying the designs of a medal-maker in another city, or even another country.
All we can say for certain about your particular piece is that, at some stage, it was sold in an English-speaking country - "sterling" being a reference to it being made of solid sterling silver.
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
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Based on the amount of wear, I would bet that this was used as a worry or prayer bead--rubbed between the fingers gently while saying a prayer; daily, for years.
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Valued Member
 United States
205 Posts |
Its a good point.. I like that thought.. Furthur checking has brought no luck.. So I will go with the thoughts above.. The date on the link is likely 1900-1909.. or so they say. And French.
I like it...
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Valued Member
United States
172 Posts |
Just in case it isn't obvious, these are Roman Catholic motifs. Matthew mentioned communion tokens, which Wikipedia suggests are a Presbyterian tradition. However, I could easily imagine this token being given to someone at his or her first Catholic communion. Although it's difficult to make out, Jesus may be holding a communion wafer in the hand on the left side of the image.
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Valued Member
Spain
108 Posts |
I will try to explain in english.
This medal or token shows a typical catholic belief that from 12th century said that those who wear the "Carmelitas Descalzas" habit (a catholic religious order) never will died in mortal sin (= it condemns a person to hell).
Years after you could wear only a scapulary (two pieces of cloth joined by two ribbons)that you wear around your neck, with the same effect.
From 1910, instead of scapulary you can use a medal with Sacred heart of Jesus in one side and Carmen Virgin (Virgen del Carmen) in the other side (scapulary is that Virgin and Child Jesus hold in their hands).
So it must be post 1910.
v.
Edited by Veton 03/14/2015 1:52 pm
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,776 |
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