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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,513 |
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
My Grandfather was in a machine gun battalion during WWI and this medallion / pendant, made of sterling silver, was in his effects when he died in the mid 1960s. It has been sitting in a box for the last 40 years and I'd like to try and identify it. I've searched various military memorabilia internet sites with no luck so I've giving it a shot here. Any clues? Thanks Joe    |
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Moderator
 United States
188130 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
without any writing it would appear to be an not awarded or presented medal, therefore in the token category. Since it is stamped as STERLING on the back, it is .925 silver, which is more a jewelry form. The design looks "military" but may just be rendition or it could indicate unit colors/emblem. I lean more toward rendition, the designs, eagle, sun, arrow (one?) and letter anagram aren't typical US Military symbols, foreign perhaps? You didn't state side.
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Valued Member
 United States
175 Posts |
@Crazyb0 ... He was in the US Army and I'm not sure it has anything to do with the military either. The 'eagle' looked like it might have been German due to the position of its wings but that's just a wild guess. We'll wait and see if anyone recognizes it.
Joe
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
That eagle impress me the same way. I have seen German campaign medals with just the eyelet size hanger, but generally they have a horizontal bar off two posts on the edge for a ribbon to loop thru. Try searching Campaign ribbons, maybe that letter C is a key to town, area, country? But if it was German, why STERLING on back?
Edited by Crazyb0
01/16/2018 7:30 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
Wings in this position can be associated with the phoenix rising from the flames. It would really help if we could identify the meaning of the symbols grasped in the bird's claws.
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
I've been searching military medals for the past few hours and came up empty handed. One odd thing is why would there be such a small 'eagle' in the center of the medal. The proportions seem off.
Joe
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
709 Posts |
The eagle in lozenge is the crest of an American fraternity group PI BETA PHI. In the centre of the eagle's chest is a sun which would have the word "LUX" on it. In the right claw is an arrow with a chain which had 12 links, one for each founder. In the left claw is the monogram IC.
This badge was adopted by the fraternity in 1912.
Details found by googling "eagle arrow bow lozenge" and searching through the images.
Apparently the lozenge shows that the fraternity was a female organization. Perhaps this was given to your grandfather as a keepsake by a female friend?
Edited by Anaximander
01/17/2018 04:22 am
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
@Anaximander, WOW I am thoroughly impressed... great find. I would have never found this. Thank you very much for locating the info.
Joe
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
FWIW I emailed the Pi Beta Phi organization to see if they would like to have this pendant as part of their organization's history. I'm willing to donate it if there is interest.
Updates to follow.
Joe
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
That was very nice of you. Do let us know.  |
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
I want to thank everyone for helping discover the origin of this pendant. It's on its way to a new home at Pi Beta Phi headquarters in Missouri.
Thanks
Joe
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
Excellent! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
Perhaps a mod can update the title of the thread to reflect that this has been identified.
Something such as "Pi Beta Phi crest sterling silver medallion" or whichever words would make it easier to search for later.
-MV
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
Great research Anaximander! And very generous offer to give this to the organization jafo50 And |
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
Quote:
Perhaps a mod can update the title of the thread to reflect that this has been identified. Done.  |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,513 |
Posted 01/16/2018 6:25 pm
