Archive for the Medallions & Badges Category

New Zealand WW1 Patriotic Tokens

Posted in Medallions & Badges, Propaganda Items with tags , on June 9, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are three identical patriotic tokens manufactured in New Zealand immediately after the outbreak of war in 1914. On the obverse is stamped “Patriotic New Zealand“. On the reverse is stamped “European War August 1914” and a quote from Nelson “England expects every man to do his duty“.

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New Zealand Boer War Patriotic Token

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , on June 3, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis token is very similar to this one here. However in this case, instead of a New Zealand flag there is a profile of a Maori warrior. In this example the date 1899-1900 is on the reverse. On the obverse are the words “British Transvaal War”.

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1919 Inter-Allied Games Medallion

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , , , on June 2, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesIn 1919 a series of athletic competitions were held in France between soldiers of the Allied Armies. These were known as the Inter-Allied Games or Pershing Games. This is a rowing medallion dated 27th April 1919. Although the games officially ran from June 22nd – July 6th, a rowing competition was held in the last week of April. New Zealand was the winner, beating the United States in this unofficial competition.

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New Zealand Boer War Patriotic Token

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , on June 2, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a patriotic token dated 1899-1900. The words on the reverse are “Success To The New Zealand Contingent”. On the obverse, around Victorias head are the words “British Transvaal War”,

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FFL Membership Badge

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , on May 20, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_FranceThe symbol on this badge was based on the so-called ‘Moustique’ or mosquito. The badge could only be worn by men and women who had joined the Forces Françaises Libres before August 1943, when their units were amalgamated with the French Army of North Africa.

This little set of badges is numbered 29202. They came with my King’s Medal for courage in the Cause of Freedom. I believe if I could find the listings for this badge number I could find the identity of the recipient of the King’s Medal.

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Southern Rhodesia Victory Medallion

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , , on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

800px-Flag_of_Southern_RhodesiaThis medallion, produced in Southern Rhodesia, was distributed to celebrate the victory in WW2.

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Commemorative Medallion for the Victory in WW2

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , , on May 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_AustraliaHere is a cheap and cheesy medallion knocked out locally in Australia around VE Day 1945. A unique piece of Australian history, this vintage token was handed out to Australian school children at the end of World War 2. Made of silvered copper by Stokes of Melbourne

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40th Anniversary Medallion of the 1st Matabele War

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , on May 9, 2013 by The Dude

800px-Flag_of_Southern_RhodesiaThis is a souvenir commemorative medallion commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1st Matabele War where Matabeleland was conquered and absorbed into what was then Rhodesia.

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Souvenir Medallion for the Entry of the 5th Army into Naples

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , on May 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)This is an unofficial commemorative medallion made by local italians to sell to soldiers of the 5th army that captured Naples.

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Souvenir Medallion of the Liberation of Rome

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , , on April 30, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)This medallion was struck in 1944 and sold locally to the members of the U.S. 5th Army that liberated Rome from the Germans.

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Czechoslovakian Medallion Commemorating the Nazi Takeover

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , on April 22, 2013 by The Dude

800px-Flag_of_CzechoslovakiaThis medallion is a copy of the commemorative coin created for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. The original medal was a table medal. This is a medallion with a loop to be attached to a ring or chain.

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Volkswagen KDF Factory Foundation Badge

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , , , , on April 21, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThese badges are tough to find. There are a ton of fakes out there. The only helpful thing is that the fakes are made from various metals whereas the originals were made exclusively from a really light zinc alloy. Basically if you hold it and you can feel the weight, it’s a fake. There are some examples of common fakes here.

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