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 Replies: 8 / Views: 760 |
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Valued Member
Australia
136 Posts |
I came across this curious late 19th century silver three pence coin while going through a random lot of coins. It appears to be shaved on one side with an etching of a three sail ship called the 'Maidie' etched into the reverse. I have done the usual Google search, but the only 'Maidie' boat from the era is a very small single sail boat, and not the larger ship portrayed on the coin. https://www.nationalhistoricships.o.../1934/maidieIt's my first found token of its kind and I was hoping to find out more about the ship that's portrayed in the engraving if possible, and maybe if the ship still exists send it to its current owners.    |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Very interesting. I hope someone will be able to offer more information.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
Is it my eyesight or is all the design on the reverse incused. It almost looks like it was done by hand . By someone with engraving talent. But should add I know nothing of this token. Just what I see. The reverse just looks so different.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1227 Posts |
I guess I should have read a little closer you said it is an engraved coin my bad.
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Moderator
Australia
16806 Posts |
You are working under the assumption that "Maidie" is the actual name of the ship. It might be a nickname or abbreviation for a longer ship name which wouldn't fit on a tiny coin like a threepence, like "Maiden of Glasgow" or some such.
Of course, it might not be referring to the ship's name at all. It could be the name of a person who sailed away on a ship, leaving a loved one behind. Or the name of a loved one left behind while their lover sailed away on a ship. Why, for all we know, it could be the name-tag for a ship's cat. All we can say for sure is that, judging by the state of the hole, it was on its chain for a long time before it was removed, so it was probably worn and well-treasured for many years after it was made.
With very little to go on and with a disconnection from its original personal context, re-creating that lost context and provenance will prove nigh-on impossible. All you have to go on is the fact that this obverse for the threepence was not used prior to 1893; so 1893 is the earliest possible date for it.
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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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
An interesting love token, but I agree with @sap, that a definitive understanding of the circumstances is probably gone. The only thing that I would add is you could try reaching out to the lovetoken society for additional help: http://lovetokensociety.com/"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
 Australia
136 Posts |
Quote:
You are working under the assumption that "Maidie" is the actual name of the ship. It might be a nickname or abbreviation for a longer ship name which wouldn't fit on a tiny coin like a threepence Mmm, very true. Ship names and their histories are very well catalogued, especially for something as large as portrayed on this coin, so not being able to find a match suggests it's not a ship name. Quote:
Of course, it might not be referring to the ship's name at all. It could be the name of a person who sailed away on a ship, leaving a loved one behind. Or the name of a loved one left behind while their lover sailed away on a ship. Looking on Google, 'maidie' is an old English/Scottish name meaning girl or young unmarried woman, and as ships tend to be referred to as 'she' it might just be a nickname or term of affection for someone's favourite sailing ship. Or a loved one who sailed off. Quote:
Why, for all we know, it could be the name-tag for a ship's cat. Heh, I would love to have the tag for a ship's cat Yeah, it does look like finding out more about this coin will probably be near impossible. It's an interesting piece to have and wonder what it meant to someone. |
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Valued Member
Australia
136 Posts |
Quote:
An interesting love token, but I agree with @sap, that a definitive understanding of the circumstances is probably gone. The only thing that I would add is you could try reaching out to the lovetoken society for additional help: An interesting site. Thanks for posting. |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 760 |
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Posted 12/03/2024 09:56 am
