What is it?

bigscout · Mar 26, 2010

Found this in a lot near an old house that dates to the 1930's. The front looks like it was made for engraving. The back says Minister, Colo. I first thought is was a plate to be engraved, but it is a heavy brass - about the thickness of a quarter. Any ideas?

kenley · Mar 26, 2010

Trophy mount.

vayank54 · Mar 26, 2010

Not sure what it is. Are the light areas at the lower part of the front and on the back solder marks? Just wondering as it might give a clue to what it is. It looks like the should be something soldered to or engraved in the lower area on the front.

bigscout · Mar 26, 2010

**** Are the light areas at the lower part of the front and on the back solder marks? Just wondering as it might give a clue to what it is. It looks like the should be something soldered to or engraved in the lower area on the front.****

No the light areas are where the crud was cleaned away. The whole piece may be this silver color.

White Feather · Mar 28, 2010

Arrrgh, looks like a wax seal stamp to me. The back would have had a small handle or ring attached. Hot wax would have been poured on a letter and the seal would have put the pattern in the wax to seal the letter. The part that's missing would have had the sender's name in a sort of ribbon effect. look at the outline of the missing piece. I'll bet it is still in the hole you dug. :laughing9:

Anyhow, that's what it looks like to me.

In reverse relief of course!

intimer · Apr 2, 2010

i remember trophies where brass plaque would be glued on with persons name.
on the reverse would be description of the event, in my memory the back was paper added. very neatly typed, sized and such.

so my guess is universal award, silver--second place, for 1960's athletic competition awards.

White Feather · Apr 2, 2010

Nope! To Small for Trophy plaque. This is only the size of a quarter. :icon_pirat:

Arrgh, Where's me Grog? :icon_pirat:

Bigcypresshunter · Apr 2, 2010

Judging by the patina, I would say its old. What gets me is I can find nothing on the MINISTER, COLO. company online in awards, tags, medals, emblems or medallions. :icon_scratch:

A google book search on old advertisements may reveal something not on the regular search engines..

intimer · Apr 3, 2010

White Feather said:
Nope! To Small for Trophy plaque. This is only the size of a quarter. Arrgh, Where's me Grog?

i was confusing in saying trophies, brass plaques and such.
i meant it might be a medal not a trophy. :coffee2:

coinmaster2db · Apr 3, 2010

It looks to me like a backing plate for an engraved plate for a trophy. You can see where there was an attached plate in the blank rectangular area on the front. You can also see on the back where it was glued to something. I tried to find an example, but couldn't. I know I've seen trophies from the late 40's through the 50's with similar pieces. It would have been a smaller trophy for an individual. ie. "Most Valuable Player 1949-1950 season". I might be way off on this, but I don't think I am.

HH!! :hello:

Cm2db

lostcauses · Apr 3, 2010

Since this appears to be a pin back item, I will go with an award plate. Whatever the award was for, sports, other school event, or any other event,: would have been on the plaque that was attached to that plate.
Such as third place basket weaving, or so on. with out the plaque you may never know what it was awarded for.

White Feather · Apr 3, 2010

Looky Here. Whatcha thank? Doin't it looky like this only older? Wax letter seals were used before licking an envelope. They did not trust that a letter was not opened unless the seal was in tact. Also, they are slightly larger than a quarter. :coffee2:

Where's Me Grog?