WW1 Medal dated 1914 is it Russian or Polish?

[alphaphil]

I have a medal dated 1914 that looks to have Russian writing on one side and a bit of Polish on the other.Medal is quite worn and seems to be made of silver. Does anyone recognize it, and do you know if it has any value? And if you can read Russian , what does it say.The medal measures approx 1 1/4 inches across.
Thankyou for any help. Phil

 

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[blurr]

Nice medal! I have looked a little for a match, but haven't found one yet. I'm just guessing, but maybe it's Prussian. Anyways, if I find a match I will post again.

 

[nhbenz]

I'm thinking its Austro-Hungarian.

 

[Showtime]

I'm pretty sure it's russian - the first word is Rooskie - the russian word for "russian" I don't know the rest of it but I'm going to send it to a friend. Hopefully I'll have a translation for you in awhile.

 

[Matejko]

Nice find. Congrats!!!

The writing on it says "Russians - brothers of Poles", reverse "Power in brotherhood (connection)"
Checked at Polish sites, it's a IWW medal. Find no info, what for the medal was - but IWW for sure.

Pozdrawiam Matejko

 

[trk5capt]

Very Nice Find, Has To Be Polish Or Russian. trk5capt...

 

[nhbenz]

Matejko, you're not off the hook. We're counting on you for more! I can't read any of the relevant sites I've found. You would be great help! How awsome to have such a varied group gathered here!

 

[nhbenz]

Thanks Tony! Hey Phil, where did you come across this? Even if it isn't relevant to where it originally came from, its always interesting to know (to many of us)... and its your thread, so if you care to share it would be intersting to know. And if this was a MD find its a dang nice one! -Ben

 

[Matejko]

Nhbenz, it's hard to find any info about this medal at Polish sites - don't know why, but is hard.
When I use Google, the only links I get are links to ended auctions in Poland. No proper info about the medal, just description and price - which is around 100PLN - $35.

Anyway, it's a nice piece of silver.
I'm not an expert in medals, wit a coin would be much easier - I do have a few catalogs.
All I can do, is ask at Polish forum. Maybe my friends in Poland will know more.

Pozdrawiam Matejko

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

IWW was the International Workers of the World. They were called the wobblies here. They got crossways with the labor unions and since they had a history of bombthrowing they got blamed for a lot of acts that they didn't commit. They were basically hounded out of existence in the US and the survivors joined the communists and the labor unions and both. I believe they still run a few political candidates. do a google for IWW or wobblies for exact details. exanimo, ss

 

[Matejko]

A little missunderstanding.
My fault, I'm to blame..

In Poland we often use "I" as a Roman number "1". Also we use "II" as a Roman "2".
So, "IWW" - I meant "First World War".
Sorry, for the language mix. It sometimes hapends to me when I think in Polish and write in English, in the same time.

Pozdrawiam Matejko

 

[Rob66]

The eagles are Russian.

 

[Matejko]

The eagles are Russian.

The one at the top is Russian.
Eagle under the writings is Polish for sure - You can trust me.

Pozdrawiam Matejko

 

[Mackaydon]

Some thoughts:

Writing around the rim, starting at the 12:30 position, seems to be: Lacznosc--sila.
There is a town in Poland called Laczna and many villages with similar names beginning with the same letters. Perhaps the medal commemorates some event from that town.

In 1914 (the date on the medal, but not necessarily the date the medal was produced), Poland didn't exist as an independent state. Instead, that land was Prussian, Austrian (or Russian since about 1831). What triggered (no pun intended) Poland's independence was The Great War of 1914-18 (WWI). Not until (first) Germany proclaimed Poland as an independent kingdom in 1916, then later, when the Armistice was signed (1918) did Poland finally regain its status as an independent state. Bottom line: If the medal is Polish, I think it was produced after 1914; in 1916 or later, when they were independent.

Don...

 

[Matejko]

Some thoughts: Poland didn't exist as an independent state.

We were always independent, but history of the World made Poland "independent underground", sometimes.
Buy some books, and read them -Mackaydon.

villages with similar names beginning with the same letters

Villages in Poland don't have anything to do with this medal. Believe me.

Pozdrawiam Matejko
No hard feelings. Buy the books.

 

[Mackaydon]

Matejko:

Actually, I did read the Columbia Encyclopeidia and related what it said about the history of Poland. I invite you to take your opposing viewpoint and nationalistic sensitivity up with those authors if you wish; I'm only the messenger.

As to the letters on the medal, I related my interpretation as to what I preceived as the letters. If you believe the letter sequence is other than LACZNOSC, please advise us.
Don........

 

[Matejko]

As to the letters on the medal, I related my interpretation as to what I preceived as the letters. If you believe the letter sequence is other than LACZNOSC, please advise us.
Don........

Don.

It's not about sequence of the letters, it's about meaning of them.

I assure You, that word LACZNOSC has nothing to do with any Polish town or village.
Whole sentence " W BRATERSKIEJ LACZNOSCI SILA" means "W-in BRATERSKIEJ-brotherhood LACZNOSCI-connection, contact SILA-power, strength".
To give any sense to this sentence in English, You have to change the order of the words - that's the way languages work.
I'm not going to argue with You, if You think that You're right with Your willage theory - let it stay this way.

My English might not be good enough, but I think that my Polish is much better than my English, and i know exactly what the writing on this medal says.
After all, I was born in Poland 35 years ago, and still live here.

Pozdrawiam Matejko

 

[kierdan]

It sometimes hapends to me when I think in Polish and write in English, in the same time.

Dont worry it happens to me when I think in English and write in English

 

[alphaphil]

Hello Ben
No, its not an MD find. I have had it years now and cant even remember where i got it.
Thanks for all your responses, but have we ID`d it yet.