Could it be that old?

[Silver Surfer]

I hunted a local lake late last week, and found this religious medallion... I didnt post it when I found it because it was so crusted and black I couldnt even tell what it was... Had obviously been in the black mud for a long time. It was about 12" down.. I soaked it in vinegar for a couple days, lightly brushing it and re-soaking it several times. Finally I could make out detail. It says "Sterling" on the back, and the front is Mother Mary I believe... Then, at the bottom, I could see a what looked like a date. I had to clean it some more, and got it about as good as it's going to get. Under a loop, it looks like "18*2"... Cant make out the 3rd number... Could it be that old?
If I am not mistaken, being stamped "Sterling" instead of .925 means it is old, but how old?
Any thoughts appreciated...

 

[kuger]

Hello S.S,it looks like it says 1890??My buddy dug two of those exact medallions this year in an early 1850 site

182? makes more sense,but I am a little skeptical of the "sterling mark,my buddies didnt have that

 

[mainer]

Looks old to me. Third number looks like a 9.

 

[teleman 2525]

very very nice bet that is the date great find congrates to you most excellent of diggers lol

 

[EagleDown]

Actually, though my eyes are not a good as they once were, that looks to me like: 18 gr.

18 grains/18 grams??

 

[kuger]

Buckleboy found one very similiar as well

 

[comfortablynumb]

Virgin Mary Medal
The Virgin Mary medal, which is often referred to as the Miraculous Medal, can be found in an array of gold, silver, pewter, and white gold designs. Sister Catherine Laboure's apparition that inspired the minting of the medal occurred on July 18th, 1830. This young nun supposedly spoke at length with the Virgin Mary, who gave her a very specific mission. Months later, Mary reappeared to Sister Catherine and presented a design for a medallion.

The Virgin Mary Medal depicts the sinless Mother standing on top of a globe and firing rays of light from her fingers. Sister Catherine confided her vision to her caretaker, who brought it to the attention of the church governance. After concluding that Sister Catherine's vision was indeed legitimate, the church began striking and distributing Virgin Mary Medals. According to Mary's instructions, as told to Catherine, Catholics should wear these medals around their necks in order to receive 'great graces.'

These popular medallions swept through Paris and offered the downtrodden and faith-hungry a chance to experience collective redemption. Virgin Mary Medals are rich with symbolism. The back depicts 12 stars, which many believe refers to the 12 Apostles of Jesus. A cross symbolizes Jesus Christ, and a heart surrounded by thorns re-imagines the concept of 'pain and redemption.'


The date on the medal corresponds with the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to Sister Catherine....1830.

I have not yet located the date of the medal (based on the style of Cross on the reverse). As soon as I do, I'll update.

 

[SCMDing]

Yea, it is a more modern ( early 1900's ) medal. The date on it is 1890 but I think it just pertains to the date in the story I linked.

http://www.cammonline.org/index.php?/about/our-founder

Still a nice find.

 

[prolab69]

I found a few of those, they all say 1830, but made about 1920...or so. good find, nice silver charm.

 

[Deepdiger60]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-religio...emZ160440729223QQcategoryZ13769QQcmdZViewItem
Nice find VM 1830

 

[Silver Surfer]

Virgin Mary Medal
The Virgin Mary medal, which is often referred to as the Miraculous Medal, can be found in an array of gold, silver, pewter, and white gold designs. Sister Catherine Laboure's apparition that inspired the minting of the medal occurred on July 18th, 1830. This young nun supposedly spoke at length with the Virgin Mary, who gave her a very specific mission. Months later, Mary reappeared to Sister Catherine and presented a design for a medallion.

The Virgin Mary Medal depicts the sinless Mother standing on top of a globe and firing rays of light from her fingers. Sister Catherine confided her vision to her caretaker, who brought it to the attention of the church governance. After concluding that Sister Catherine's vision was indeed legitimate, the church began striking and distributing Virgin Mary Medals. According to Mary's instructions, as told to Catherine, Catholics should wear these medals around their necks in order to receive 'great graces.'

These popular medallions swept through Paris and offered the downtrodden and faith-hungry a chance to experience collective redemption. Virgin Mary Medals are rich with symbolism. The back depicts 12 stars, which many believe refers to the 12 Apostles of Jesus. A cross symbolizes Jesus Christ, and a heart surrounded by thorns re-imagines the concept of 'pain and redemption.'


The date on the medal corresponds with the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to Sister Catherine....1830.

I have not yet located the date of the medal (based on the style of Cross on the reverse). As soon as I do, I'll update.

You guys never cease to amaze me!!!! You describe it to a "T"....
The makers mark on the back is really what first made me think it was old... I cant wait to see what else you come up with, thanks so much!!
Should I attempt to clean it more, or just leave as is? Suggestions on how to try to "silver it up", if at all?

 

[EagleDown]

Yea, it is a more modern ( early 1900's ) medal. The date on it is 1890 but I think it just pertains to the date in the story I linked.

http://www.cammonline.org/index.php?/about/our-founder

Still a nice find.

Now I know I need new glasses!!

 

[GopherDaGold]

It looks as though the ePay seller is attempting to dupe the would-be buyer into thinking the medal was crafted in 1830.
I sent the seller a message

 

[kuger]

As I said I dont think they put "Sterling",on items too far back?

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Hi,

The national marking act for jewelry was sometime around 1906. However things around the world have been marked for 100's of years before. Things like silverware and jewelery have been marked for a long time. They did not however use the Sterling mark, sterling is a modern word for silver. They used things like the pasant lion to mark silver or a anchor. Nice find even if not very old sterling religious metals are a great find!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[comfortablynumb]

I have found the cross style (Fleur-de-lis Cross - representing the Trinity). Now to find the mint date when this style was distributed.

 

[N.J.THer]

I found one two weekends ago. It also had an 1800s date on it but I don't remember what it was and since I was working with archaeologists on a site I did not get to keep it. It was bagged, tagged and flagged for the arches. I didn't think it was very old when I found it. I would agree with others that stated mid 1900s.

NJ

 

[kuger]

Buckleboys is exact to the ones my buddie dug in an 1850's site

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,310511.msg2250397/topicseen.html#msg2250397

 

[comfortablynumb]

Most likely a European distributor (according to a Missouri distributor that I contacted). US-made medals do not use the "trinity-style" ends on the cross designs.

 

[kuger]

Another clue to it not being real early is the clasp ring,on the early examples they are usually side ways