WWII ID bracelet, buttons, unknown bank token

[jjg70]

I went back to the In-laws for a couple of hours to hunt. I found a WWII ID bracelet that belonged to a relative, on the back left corner it says 1/20 - 12K. I assume it was the year made and the gold plating. She was a nurse in the Naval Reserves. Then I found a couple Eagle facing right Navy buttons, back is corroded and still trying to make out what it says. I'm trying to figure out what exactly the dollar token is. around the edge it says"with return of savings bank", in the middle is "Good for $1 in Good Condition" and on the back is a dollar sign. Was this a promo for banks to get customers to open a savings account?

 

[Born Free]

How cool that you found that bracelet from a relative! Is she still living, or does she have children?

Nice place to hunt, seems In-laws are apparently good for something, right?

There's more treasure waiting to be found there.

Born Free

 

[High Plains Digger]

the 1/20 12k probably is gold filled with 12kt gold. I think the 1/20 is the relative composition number, and that seems quite low. With 12kt gold, there may not be much actual gold there. In fact, I think that the pure gold amount is 1 in 20 parts of 50% gold. So if it weighed 40 ounces, you would have 1 ounce of gold. Somebody check me, I am not always sure of that which I speak. But it is a start.

Bracelet is a real bell ringer. Should be worth a free drink.

 

[jjg70]

i just weighed it and it showed 1 ounce for the bracelet, i don't know why they would waste money on any amount of gold in it back during the war, unless it was to make the bracelet more durable

 

[jewelerguy]

great finds. I used to collect antique coin banks, and years ago some banks would give out nice sturdy metal coin banks to promote savings.... they would keep the key and you could bring your bank in and they would open and deposit the contents into your account. I think your token was meant to help promote giving the coin bank back to them if you no longer desired to keep it.

 

[jewelerguy]

here's the definition of gold filled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_filled_jewelry

 

[jjg70]

Since there is no specific bank name on it, I assume generic ones were made primarily and sold to any bank running a promo

 

[High Plains Digger]

Thanks jewelerguy, I was almost close on. Good enough for hand grenades.

I wonder what period of time the bank token goes back to? A buck could have been some real money at that time.

 

[jewelerguy]

Thanks jewelerguy, I was almost close on. Good enough for hand grenades.

I wonder what period of time the bank token goes back to? A buck could have been some real money at that time.

my guess, based on lettering style on the token, is late 1920's

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Nice military finds.

 

[steelheadwill]

Great family historic finds!
I dug a lot of those brass coin banks the token was a reminder to return,
all broken open