I know some about the history of this medal. But, does anyone else know anything about these things? This one is supposed to be commemorating the Rock Island bridge over the Mississippi at the the rock islands 70th Anniversary in 1922. Anyone know anything about these coins/medals?
I'm going to take a wild stab at this. Could it be a watch fob? The thing that goes on the other end of the chain of a pocket watch? I'm probably way off. Just a thought.
No.. It's actually a "medal". It originally was mounted on a red/white & Blue ribbon, kinda military style. It was simply a commemorative medal celebrating Rock Island's 70th anniversary in 1922. One side of course with the beaver pelt logo of the era, and the other side a bust of Abe Lincoln, the Rock Island bridge over the Mississippi River, and other little decoration. The significance of the bridge, is it was the very first railroad bridge to span the Mississippi. The significance of Abe is because the Rock Island was sued by the company that owned a riverboat that ran up and down the river that hit one of the pylons of the bridge and sank. A lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln represented the Rock Island and won the case for them, which also sent a positive spin on the Lawyer and launched his career in politics.. You know his history from there.. Anyway.. This is a medal that was issued in 1922 commemorating those little things..
this thread of mine didn't get allot of notice, and thats ok, maybe it's just because us Rock Heads are rare, lol.. But, I would like some input on this type of rail road memorbilia if you have any input. I want to share another picture of the medal I got recently. I have suspicions that it is a "re-make" even though I question why they would re-make a coin like this? I wouldn't think it would be that big of a deal, and to a very limited audience to take the time and trouble of re-making it.. <shurg>.. It's curious, because this latest coin I got, seems to not be "quite" the same as the one I also have that is known to be original 1922 vintage. After I got it, I started comparing it to the other. By the way, I do have BOTH versions of it, and here is the picture of the two. Look closely, because there are huge differences, and very obvious, NOT the same stamping. The logo side is oposite stamping. The heads side, lots of differences. The Abe bust is not the same carving, and the trains on the sides are even not located at the same place.. The point is, my latest find is obviously a newer stamping. But I have never seen, nor heard of this version, and wonder when, and where the heck did it come from? All the ones I have seen, are of the original stamping from 1922 like the one on the right. take a look. I hope to find someone that can help explain these two versions....
Well, it could be a legitimate "re-make" of the medallion. If so, who knows the motivation, unless it's primary source can be found. OTOH- Counterfeit railroadiana is a lucrative business these days. Especially with east Asia being full of willing producers. Locks, keys, police badges (RR and other), baggage tags, lanterns, and? It used to be agony watching people bidding on blatantly obvious fakes, even "never was" stuff, at that certain auction site. Ugh. There were so many "Central Union Pacific Railroad" locks made, with a brass plate sloppily soldered on. I saw some people going $40, 50, 60 dollar range for those ten cent con jobs. Boxcab E50
Dont know anything about them, but they are really cool looking and a nice piece of history that you have there.
I noticed that too.. In fact, I have one of the fake RI Police Badges. I knew it was a fake, and didn't pay but a few bucks for it. I just thought it would look cool on my engineer hat, lol.. I did notice there is alot of Rock Island (maybe other roads too, but I have only been looking at the RI stuff) memorbilia showing up lately, and thought it was "odd". But, the coin, this is the only one I have ever seen like this. It is obviously newer metal technology. The detail is way too crisp to be vintage due to the technology of making such things has changed drastically. The original is Bronze if my memory serves. The new one has a "finish" to it like it is some sort of copper plating or maybe bronze plated.
>>It is obviously newer metal technology. The detail is way too crisp to be vintage due to the technology of making such things has changed drastically. Nuh-uh. The detail is crisper because it definitely was coined (stamped). The other one almost looks cast; if it was there should be a small flaw on the rim. The late 18th Cent. to early 20th Cent. was the height of the medalmaker's art. The relatively washed out detail on what you think is the 1922 version is not typical of that era. >>The original is Bronze if my memory serves. The new one has a "finish" to it like it is some sort of copper plating or maybe bronze plated. The only way you can prove that is to cut it in half; not recommended! The left one has a typical bronze color, the one on the right has a different composition, more tin at least, even maybe zinc because it has a brass coloring. That means a cheaper, softer material - more medals could be made from the same die before it wore out. That says to me it's not the original. From what I see, What you think is "new" is more likely the original. Very doubtful this a fake; there's no reason, the market's not big enough like it is for sheriff's badges and CP/UP stuff. Not enough profit here either. And to re-do the design besides? Doesn't make sense. I'd guess that medal was re-issued, either as a general souvenir at the time, or more likely, for some later anniversary: 1952 was the 100th anniv. of beginning of the bridge construction for example.
Well.. all that makes sense. I am not sure which is the original, but what you say does make sense to me. Who knows really. I would like to find out for sure, just to know. But all the ones that I have seen (several), they all look like the one on the right. Some have different looking finishes than others. I thought bronze was more "brassy" or "bright" that the one on the right myself. The one on the right may be copper? Dunno. I have both versions, and just for my own peace of mind, I would like to know which is which, and when and where the imposter comes from, and why. I just can not find allot on the internet about them, especially the one on the left.
Well, I did not say it was a fake. First I noted a legit reproduction. However, do not discount possibility of fakes due to potential market size. That is not stopping people... Look here: http://www.railroadiana.org/fakes/pgFakes.php Boxcab E50
Point taken.. But, still would like to figure it out..lol There is some very small letters on one side that indicate the manufacture of it. But one of the letters is hard to read. What I can read is (the X is the letter I can not read, even with a loop) "W & X Co. Newark NJ" I found a company named W&E Baum in New Jersey. It claims to have been established in 1920. It makes plaques, awards, memorials, etc, working in several media, including bronze. I wrote them a letter inquiring if they are by chance the company that stamped the medal. Hopefully, they are, and I can get some answers.
BoxcabE50, the items on the list have far larger collector bases than you think, in some cases huge. For a lot of people, they're not just railroadiana, but have interest as general antiques. With too many years of dealing in coins (and still more collecting), neither item IMO has the taint of being a fake made to swindle collectors. Tudor, good luck with the search!
I merely put that up as an example to peruse for anyone who might be less initiated. To show some known categories where fakes have been found. I am well aware of the antique and railroadiana situation. As both a past and present collector and reseller of such items. Also as a former subscriber to KL&L, and former RCAI member. Boxcab E50
Well, I now have 3 of these coins. The 3rd is like the coin on the right, "but" in much better, crisper condition, but looks like it is kinda a different finish.. kinda weird.. Still two different stampings, but the 3rd looks like the one on the right, but with a finish more like the one on the left.. Now, I am REALLY confused... :tb-confused:
