Numismatic Relics

Relics are surviving memorials of something from the past and can also be considered a memento or souvenir. These historical artifacts help us remember the object or event. They are not usually associated with numismatics; however, they do often come up in medal collecting.

Relic medals are pieces struck from the metal of the subject matter they depict. They normally say where they have come from and through the years have been made from captured cannons, parts of ships, metal taken from fires, musket balls, bells, and even items sent into outer space.

I am unaware of any reference guide which lists all known pieces. They are usually made in small quantities and are not rare, but the average exo-numismatist rarely comes across them. In my years of collecting, I have only been able to obtain just twenty examples of these kinds of pieces.

Below are a few from my collection, all made from a different object;

Ship – USS Constitution

This ship is also known as “Old Ironsides.” It is the world’s oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1792 and fought in the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom. She was retired in 1881 and was declared a museum ship in 1907. Her mission today is to educate and the crew consists of 75 officers and sailors who are all active-duty United States Navy personnel. She is berthed at the former Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts. Shown here is a bronze ashtray with a facsimile medal in the middle reading “This material was taken from the U.S. frigate Constitution, keel laid 1794, rebuilding 1927.”

Cannon – WWI Liberty Loan

On March 3, 1919, the Victory Liberty Loan Act was signed into law. During the war, volunteers sold savings stamps and bonds to help finance the war. This common piece was presented by the U.S. Treasury Department to those volunteers. They are holed so they can be worn and are made of steel. Most specimens will have some degree of rust on them. On the reverse is a space for a name to be engraved, but, most never were. This piece is engraved to P.H. McCarthy and the reverse of it reads “Made from captured German cannon.”

Alclad Metal - WWII Lockheed Hudson Bomber

The Lockheed Hudson is a light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was initially put into service by the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. The primary users were the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the United States Army Air Force. The plane was made with alclad, an aluminum alloy. The first aircraft to be built from it was the all-metal United States Navy airship ZMC-2 which was constructed in 1927. Alclad used with aluminum reduces corrosion and the medal which pictures the plane reads “Coined from alclad used on the fuselage (sic) of Lockheed Hudson Bomber.”

Recovered Metal - 1871 Chicago Fire

The 1871 Chicago Fire occurred Oct. 8-10. It killed approximately 300 people, destroyed 3.3 square miles, and 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 people homeless. It is said to have started Oct. 8 in or around a small barn belonging to the O’Leary family in the alley behind 137 W. DeKoven St. The best legend blames Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who supposedly knocked over a lantern. The company, N.W. Showcase Co. was lost in the fire. A medal they issued reads “Nickel from the ruins of the N.W. showcase MF’G C. Oct. 9th, 1871.”

1849 Church Bell - Milwaukee

The St. Gall Parish in Milwaukee was established in 1849 by Bishop John Henni. The church stood at the corner of Third and Sycamore (now Michigan) Streets and served the English-speaking Catholic community. In 1875 another church was built by the Jesuits named Holy Name. Both merged in 1894 to form Gesu Church, which stands today in downtown Milwaukee. The church building of St. Gall was demolished in 1899. The Gesu Bazaar was held in 1899 celebrating St. Gall 1849-1899. Souvenir badges in the shape of a bell were sold as keepsakes. The back of the bell reads, “Made from old St. Gall Church bell.”

These relic medals continue to remind us of these important historical events. Possessing these medals made from the items is truly history in your hands.

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