Never Really Was Identified...

[AU24K]

A couple years ago I posted this and still don't really know much more about it than I did before. Please take a look and see if you have the answer. Thanks.


http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,61978.0.html

Scott

 

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[Mackaydon]

The inset shows the Madonna (Magna Mater) and child (Jesus) ; the basilica to the right is the Mariazell Basilica (or in English the Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary); the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the most important in Europe.

 

[AU24K]

Is this a common type "attachment" or rare? Any idea what it is worth? Who or what entity would "attach" this to the coin?
Thanks
Scott

 

[Mackaydon]

Scott:
My uneducated guess:
The attachment showing the 'Magna Mater' and the basilica at Mariazell may have been a souvenir for pilgrams visiting the basilica or the town itself. Other coins of Austria include the Magna Mater, but I never found one that also includes the basilica.
Politically, Austria became a republic in 1918, and except in 1934 when a "corporative totalitarian" regime was established, nothing of political note happened there until 1938 when the German Third Reich took control--and I doubt if Hitler advocated the modification of the coin as you see it.

Also, since there are no words, letters or symbols on the 'addition', I believe it advocates what, to me, seems more probable; a religious souvenir.
Don....

 

[AU24K]

Don,
Thanks. After staring at it and thinking about your comments, it makes perfect sense to me now. I had just never seen anything like that before. Again, thanks!
Scott