Small Medal

[Derek752]

This small medal came from a colonial home site now just a cornfield.
To give ya an ideal of age..oldest coin from the site is KGI 1721 and newest coin was a 1803 Lg Cent.
C
On the one side is a C S , Then below that are the letters "DSMD"
S

The othe side best I can see is a cross type symbol at the 6 O'clock position.

Front and back photos .... anyone know what it is

 

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[BioProfessor]

Can you tell if the "loop" was attached to make the item a charm or part of a necklace or is it an integral part of the item and make all at the same time? I'm thinking it might be a token that was turned into a necklace.

Any idea of the type of metal?

Daryl

 

[BioProfessor]

If I had to guess right now, I would say that the letters are abbreviations for something in the religious arena.

When I look at the letters and how they are arranged, they are not balanced. If we use the "C" and "S" at the top corners as a guide, the "D" extends further out from the "S" on the right than the "T" does on the left. I suspect that there is a letter hidden underneath the crud that would balance the letters so that they line up better with the "C" and "S."

It doesn't look like the find has been cleaned of all the crud. It seems to be either wet or have olive oil on it. In order to get a handle on what letters are there and get a good ID, this crud has to be removed. Is the material coating the metal bronze disease or can you tell? Are you just planning on an olive oil soak? That could tke years. Have you tried to clean it with peroxide? How about salt, lemon juice, and aluminum foil if it's silver? Boiling? Electrolysis?

If you can get it cleaner so the lettering is more distict, I think it would help. It may not help the value of the coin but right now it seems it is impossible to tell what is on the coin/token/medallion and that will also hinder your investigation.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Daryl

 

[Derek752]

Thanks for the imput Bio...I've had it in olive oil for about 2 weeks now and it isnt cleaning up to well,I'll try something else to clean it

Im pretty sure its a religious type charm / medaland I believe t is made of brass...the loop at the top is broken

HH!

 

[Red-Coat]

Just tidying up some blasts from the past (including some very ancient ones), largely for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.

That’s a Catholic amulet medallion of St. Benedict, worn for protection. It’s barely visible on yours but there’s a letter ‘N’ before the ‘DSMD’ on the cross-bar of the crucifix as part of the Latin prayer abbreviation that begins vertically: C S S M L - N D S M D (Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux - Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux!” (Let the holy cross be my light - May the dragon never be my master, and various similar translations):

These have been made for centuries in a myriad of design variations by all Catholic countries, so almost impossible to put a date or an origin to it.