Posted 12 years ago
cmwSummerK…
(1 item)
I have several WW II Australian coin bracelets. I want more information. My first one was given to me around 1957-58 when I was about 14. The woman who gave it to me was British. She had a boyfriend from New Zealand on an "Australian aircraft carrier". Her husband didn't want her to keep a piece of jewelry another man had made for her, I was wearing other silver jewelry so she gave it to me. In the last 5 years I have seen several more like this with just these George VI coins. I am also seeing them on ebay, etc. I want to know more about them. I strongly suspect they were made on board ships with some sort of hobby metal shop. Very few have been soldered. Some have very innovative links and clasps.
I have had the links on mine soldered because I want to wear them. I have also had safety chains attached after my first one fell open in a shopping center parking lot!
These fall into the broad category of "trench art". They were made during the war and sold as souvenirs to service members.
I would think that they could have been made onboard ships by navy personel or just as easily made on land by locals or military personel.
Scott
Awesome bracelet, what a treasure!
i was making them out of Australian 1c and 2c peaces for the kids now they are no longer used.
A nice piece of sweetheart jewellery! In old money the total is five shillings and sixpence or 55 cents. All of these coins were 92.5% or British sterling standard. They all look like they have been hammered into a concave shape.
In Australia at the time each of these coins had a specific slang name:
you have two treys, two zacks, two deenahs (or two bobs) and a two bob piece.
It all equals five 'n six!
trey - three pence
zack - sixpence
deener, deenah or bob - schilling
two bob - two shilling or a florin.
How Much things cost in 1944: Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents, Loaf of Bread 10 cents & Old Spice Shaving Soap $1.00
Love it!