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Posted 2 months ago
vetraio50
(358 items)
My father will be 94 in May this year. He now resides in a nursing home. My mother and I meet there on Wednesdays. A month ago now Mum passed this to me in front of Dad and said she wanted me to have it. When I saw it, I immediately realised what it was because of Collector's Weekly. Thanks to the discussion on these metal items I knew something about its origin.
Mum's story was that my father had made it when he was in the Army. I doubt it. Mind you old Jack was always good with his hands. But I'm not sure if he was this good.
It is made from a Florin. Two shillings. Twenty cents these days. Silver 92.5% (.3364 Troy ounces) = $9.75 currently at scrap value.
(A silver coin melt value based on spot silver prices of $28.99 (US) and $28.32 (AUD) on 3/8/2013 10:14:04 PM GMT.)
Not a huge value for a coin but of immense value to me and this goes into the "Not For Sale" section of my collection. I never knew of its existence. I never saw him wear it. It fits my pinky/ digitus V manus perfectly. I cannot ask him about it because of his severe dementia. It's a little 'treasure' and I told Mum that I would treasure it. I meant it.
Background to the 1942 Florin in the war years:
"1942 San Francisco Mint Silver Florin
Sterling Silver
In 1942, Australia was at war. The Japanese were on our doorstep and the Americans were already here, in fact the well paid American servicemen spent up so much that they literally broke our banks supply of small change. The Sydney Mint had closed its doors in 1926, having gone broke making money and the Perth and Melbourne Mints could not cope with the quotas required. The San Francisco and Denver Mints came to the party and produced over 6 million pounds worth of silver florin, sixpence and threepence coins. The San Francisco florins have a "S" mintmark over the date….
Mintage: 6,000,000"
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/204190-silver-today.html
Because of the method used to create these pieces the date is not there on the inside to say its an American mint example. But you never know?
Sterling SilverHolding a piece of sterling silver flatware in the palm of the hand is like…
World CoinsSince ancient times, governments have produced coins to establish a predict…
Many thanks Manikin!
Learn something new everyday. Thanks.
Many thanks blunderbuss!
Thanks as well too pops52, mustangtony & officialfuel!
Stunning ring !!!!!!! , Your Dads ring is very very beautiful:)
Many thanks, Sean and to you too, Kev!
your very welcome Kevin G.:)
GREAT souvenir of the War!
It is amazing to have it still in the family. The coins were popular souvenirs among US Troops-- many were set in aircraft plexiglass. Many heart shaped ones were sent to sweethearts in the US (and remain to this day)!
scott
vetraio50. I am so happy for you and your family to have such a treasure, and each other. Great item sir!!! Take care! :)
Many thanks BHock!
Your Daddy sounds like he is quite a character. I'm sure he would spin a great tale regarding this piece. Give him a kiss from me (minty American) on Wednesday.
Fabulous ring and wonderful account!!! So glad that you have this to remember your good father and his wartime sacrifices!
Thanks miKKo and Amber too!
I have to be careful with him, Amber.
He is a bit 'up-tight' even now he's probably re living his first decade.
It's a bit like looking at myself in the mirror.
Difficult.
What a lovely story and how lucky you are to have something that meant so much to both of them and something that you can have close to you at all times.. it is!! priceless!...:-)
Many thanks inky, Phil and Alfredo!
That is an amazing story. My dad is 92 and was in that war. He fought way up in the Aleutian Islands, now part of Alaska against the Japanese.
It's so nice you have a keepsake with a wonderful story to go along with it.
wow kevin what a gem . and such a facinating history to the ring, i'm sure you will treasure it.
yourself and paul look great on your profile picture, hell you haven't changed a bit. botox really is wonderful !!!!!! love diana
Many thanks nldionne, rniederman, Designer, AntigueToys, Geno and to ardee54 too!
Hi Diana! Botox! Never!
Hey scottvez, I apologize for having not thanked you for your kind, informative comments!
No problem, vetraio.
I have several florin souvenirs from WW2-- all separated from the original owner/ family. It is nice to see one still cherished by the family!
scott
Thanks to you, Scott, Kevin and the others at CW I knew exactly what it was when Mum took it out of her purse.
I was shocked to see something that I knew about coming from my parents.
They kept very little.
That's actually not true.
Mum determinedly kept very little.
My father was a hoarder.
He had every bus and train ticket he ever bought.
I will not say what happened to the 'mess'.
Many thanks Hedgewalker!
Many thanks bratjdd!
You are very Welcome.
Many thanks czechman!
What a wealth of memory and emotion it must conjure,
beautiful story, Kevin.
Love it
great story and gorgeous memento. wear it well! :)
Many thanks to all of you!
Hunter
birdie
Poop
lisa
Budek
& JayHow yoo!
Well, tie me kangaroo down sport!!! Now this goes to the top of my Love list on several counts, wartime, military, coins, hand made, but most importantly family history. Fantastic, thanks for sharing!!! Fantastic (did I say that already?) Ok Fantastic for the third time!
Many thanks Kerry10456!
Mind me platypus duck
Ah, don't let 'im go running amok, Bill
Just mind me platypus duck...
And thanks to you too Coober Pedy!
I'll speak to Rolf and Dame Edna about it!
great story -- thanks for sharing
Many thanks epson233!
All of the above .
Thanks to you too, ozmarty!
Many thanks Hunter and Manikin too!
Many thanks Tlynnie1942!
This is much better than the average coin ring because the coat of arms was cut out and then mounted on the body of the ring!
Many thanks Militarist! I agree that they took a piece of the design and flipped it. It suggests the six States and deletes the Crown. My father was a republican rather than a supporter of the English Monarchy.
Many thanks Tony50!
Many thanks to you too SteveS! How are things in Melbourne?
I love it all over again,
Thanks for posting this treasured piece,
T
And thanks to you too Tonino!