Medals and coins RARE?

[Maverick1107]

Greetings fellow treasure hunters.

I came across these 3 coins/medals.
Anything interesting or any valid information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Silvermonkey]

Welcome to T-Net Maverick, Can't help you with any ID's...but nice fines.

 

[Joecoins]

For the one that looks like silver. If you want to test it with out damaging it. I suggest learning how to do. A "specific gravity test". Basicaly just hanging it on a string and weighing it in water.. May be a few more steps invovled. But would be useful in the future possibly, if you can perform the test. Good luck

 

[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet.

No, not rare, although the first one is obscure. It’s from Ethiopia and is the Military Medal Of Merit Of The Order Of St. George. That’s the saint doing his dragon-slaying thing on one side and the Trinity Star on the other, with the ribbon in Ethiopia’s colours. Produced in bronze by Mappin & Webb of London. You might expect to get $50 or so for it, but you'll sometimes see them on fleabay at twice that.

The second is a souvenir Vatican medallion of Pope John Paul II, which will be late 20th or early 21st Century. It doesn’t look like silver but, even if it were, it would only really have melt-down value.

The third is a rather crude modern imitation of a Syracuse decadrachm coin from the 5th/4th Century BC. Head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins and a charioteer being crowned by Nike. It’s possible that might be silver but, if it is, again it won’t have much more than melt-down value.

 

[Red-Coat]

PS: The medal will be from the 1930s-1940s and was the highest military decoration of Imperial Ethiopia, awarded rarely for acts of great bravery and outstanding military leadership in times of conflict. Most likely issued between 1935-36 when the country was invaded by Italy, subsequently during the guerilla campaign against occupation, or in 1941 when their forces fought alongside the British and Free French to achieve liberation.

There's one in somewhat better condition available on a UK dealer's site at the moment for £60 ($79). If there are bronze palm leaves on the ribbon (which indicate second and additional awards... one palm frond for each occasion) then you could probably bump up that price a bit.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Some nice pieces any silver?