Mysterious Tin Coin - part of Templar legacy?

[vastik]

Please go to my website to view this amazing coin. If you can offer any assistance in identifying its origins, I would be most grateful.

www.mysterycoin.com

 

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[vastik]

I believe auftrag also means 'order'. What's the point?

"Order" -- that's interesting. This is why I think it may have something to do with one of those secret societies or "orders."

 

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[IronSpike]

I think mojjax sword handle suggestion could be close. Could also be a handle inlaid on a cane like on this link:

http://www.cannes-fayet.com/sword_cane_carbon.html

 

[vastik]

Mission grapes are a variety of Vitis vinifera introduced from Spain to the western coasts of North and South America in the 1500s by Catholic missionaries for use in making sacramental wine, table and fortified wine. The original European strain, until recently, had been lost, thus the grapes' being named "Mission grapes" since the Catholic missions are where they were generally grown. The grape was introduced to California in the eighteenth century by Franciscan missionaries. Until about 1850, Mission grapes, or Criolla, represented the entirety of viticulture in California; at the present time, however, Mission represents less than 1000 acres (4 km²) of total plantings in the entire state. Most of the state's remaining plantings are in the Gold Country, the Central Valley, and Southern California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_(grape)

I'll drink to that!
But I still don't think it came from a wine case

 

[vastik]

I think mojjax sword handle suggestion could be close. Could also be a handle inlaid on a cane like on this link:

http://www.cannes-fayet.com/sword_cane_carbon.html

Yes, IronSpike and Mojjax, you might be on to something there. If it was made for something like that and never used that would explain the pattern on the back and the lack of adhesive residue.
Now were cooking!

 

[DCMatt]

Clear pictures rarely "lie",

Johnnyi,

When I first saw the pictures last year, I also thought it was adhesive. When I examined it in person, I found not only that the so called "raised" marks were actually flat, but there was no evidence of adhesive.
Sheesh! How many times do I have to say that?

Tin Plague constitutes an infectious alteration of the crystalline, but not the chemical, structure of tin, associated with a reduction in density. At temperatures below 13° C (56° F), tin's crystalline structure changes from tetragonal (beta-tin) to cubic (alpha-tin), thus pure metallic tin gradually turns into a non-metallic white powder. The rate of change reaches a maximum around -30° C (-22° F).

Tin Plague appears to spread like a disease. In this phenomenon gray spots are formed on tin medal, medallions or tin objects, which expand, proliferate, and then crumble, forming holes. Eventually the entire coin or tin object disintegrates. This phenomenon is also called a "tin disease" or "tin pest."

 

[DCMatt]

You might want to contact some of the posters from this thread. Some of them are experts in the interpretation of symbols.

http://Nice Bell Found at Shipwreck Site...with pictures.

For what it is worth, I think your item could be a medallion off a Holy water font or wall plaque. These were/are common in Catholic homes.

The German phrase embossed on your item is found in numerous early 20th c Catholic printed materials.

I'd also like to say that the posters in this forum may not be experts in a given field, but it is my experience that many of them have very good instincts about the items posted here. Don't discount their opinions to hastily.

DCMatt

 

[johnnyi]

Matt, you might be right, but you'd think the church would use something a little better than cheap metal for a water font? I think SWR is on to something with the wine idea, but not on a case; more likely the common inset we sometimes see on the bottle itself, such as a bottle of benedictine. http://www.drinkhacker.com/category/liqueurs/page/2/
http://sg.88dbmedia1.jobsdb.com/sg_UploadFiles/2008/03/10/3126F305-B568-4273-BF25-4F44BC2507D8.jpg

 

[Mackaydon]

Vas:
Yes, some commemorative medals do have mint marks--and/or engraver's initials; they are not unique to coins.

I think what you have is an attractive (more modern) commemorative medal that has incorporated the symbolizm of many Christian (and other) organization, sects, orders, etc..

The flowery design could be adopted by any of these groups or incorporated by the engraver simply for aesthetic purposes--as noted above by Montana Jim.

Some Missions had periodic reunions to commemorate the first; I believe your medal/medallion is such a memento. In essence, I believe your medal is much more generic than proposed elsewhere in this thread. (Source: my 'two cents')
Don..

 

[johnnyi]

Are my eyes failing me, or is that a simple period after mission and not an "o"? I see the exact same dot in the interior letters and in the bottom of the cross. Where is this "mint mark"?

 

[diggummup]

Are my eyes failing me, or is that a simple period after mission and not an "o"? I see the exact same dot in the interior letters and in the bottom of the cross. Where is this "mint mark"?

That's what i'm asking too. Looks like a plain ole dot to me.

 

[ES66]

Wow, this post has gotten out of hand. I'm not sure what the big mystery is. This is obviously some sort of Masonic medallion, likely from the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The symbolism is clearly Masonic with the eye of Providence (God) at the top (it's also on the dollar bill). The swords are a classic Masonic symbol. The cross and reference to Jesus are also obvious Masonic references.

 

[IronSpike]

What's the diameter?

 

[Mackaydon]

Swords?? I must have missed them; I only see 3 nails/spikes.

 

[DialM]

Domain Name: mysterycoin.com
Expiry Date: 23-Sep-2010
Creation Date: 23-Sep-2009

Name servers:
ns1.hostmonster.com
ns2.hostmonster.com

Registrant Name: Errol Bruce-Knapp
Registrant Company: mysterycoin.com
Registrant Email Address: errolbk@rogers.com
Registrant Address: 638 Rubidge Street
Registrant City: Peterborough
Registrant State/Region/Province: Ontario
Registrant Postal Code: K9H 4G1
Registrant Country: CA
Registrant Tel No: +1.7057489542
Registrant Fax No:

Admin Name: Errol Bruce-Knapp
Admin Company: mysterycoin.com
Admin Email Address: errolbk@rogers.com
Admin Address: 638 Rubidge Street
Admin City: Peterborough
Admin State/Region/Province: Ontario
Admin Postal Code: K9H 4G1
Admin Country: CA
Admin Tel No: +1.7057489542
Admin Fax No:

Tech Name: Errol Bruce-Knapp
Tech Company: mysterycoin.com
Tech Email Address: errolbk@rogers.com
Tech Address: 638 Rubidge Street
Tech City: Peterborough
Tech State/Region/Province: Ontario
Tech Postal Code: K9H 4G1
Tech Country: CA
Tech Tel No: +1.7057489542
Tech Fax No:

 

[Illinois Jeff]

Maybe it was in a backing of some kind and used as a necklace. Does look like it was pryed out of something.

 

[vastik]

Maybe it was in a backing of some kind and used as a necklace. Does look like it was pryed out of something.

Although Johnnyi expert would argue, no, it has not been pried out of anything. When you look at it in person, there is no evidence that it was ever attached to something. It may have well been intended to be attached to something, but no evidence of it on the piece itself.

It is about the same size as a Canadian toonie.

 

[scratcher]

If this item is about the same size as a loonie(28 mm), weighs 8 grams, and tin is about 6.5g/cc average then it should be about 2.8mm in thickness. A walking liberty half which is a little bigger in diameter is 1.8 mm in thickness for reference. Could you post a picture from the side please? And a closeup of the upper portion that appears dented? Thanks

 

[johnnyi]

Scratcher, I doubt if he was talking about thickness when he mentioned size, but who knows. At least we do finally know this thing is barely over an inch in diameter, so we can probably rule out holy water fonts, inserts to fraternal sashes, etc., which would certainly be larger. Brandy bottles, wine bottles, benedictine bottles, all seem to be even more fertile ground now.

 

[DCMatt]

Scratcher, I doubt if he was talking about thickness when he mentioned size, but who knows. At least we do finally know this thing is barely over an inch in diameter, so we can probably rule out holy water fonts, inserts to fraternal sashes, etc., which would certainly be larger. Brandy bottles, wine bottles, benedictine bottles, all seem to be even more fertile ground now.

I had no idea it was so small. I retract all my previous posts.

Maybe if we had ALL the information currently known about this object, we might have a chance to ID it.

Frankly, I don't think the owner wants an ID because it will turn out to be some mundane, early 20th c item and he'll have to take down his hokey web site. I'm tired of feeding this dog.

DCMatt

 

[scratcher]

I wanted to clarify a couple things. First I meant 'toonie' Not 'loonie'. Second, I meant that if you calculate the thickness using the known variables with volume and density formulas the item should be about 2.8 mm thick. That would be alot thicker than some would guess. Especially with the apparent little dent.