Medal ID Help please.

[FunWithTreasure]

Found this today. It is weird. What is it any help would be great.

A Medal With a Sphinx (Dont know if I spelled that Right) on front and 4 skulls on back. Says Wer Der Konig - Wer War Bettler - Wer Welser around the rim

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[Montana Jim]

Skull & Bones Pendant

The writing in the Skull & Bones "tomb": "Wer war der Thor, wer Weiser, Bettler oder Kaiser? Ob Arm, ob Reich, im Tode gleich." Which reads: Who was the fool, who the wise man, beggar or king? Whether poor or rich, all's the same in death."

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks like German. Something about a beggar?

Thanks Jim. I like the saying.

 

[Montana Jim]

Looks like German.

Yes... it's German.

I have no idea where the sphynx come's into play.

Or the triangle.

 

[ivan salis]

it points out that death is the great equalizer and has no respect for earthly ideals of rank or caste (to death a bum and the king are the same and the same goes for the wise man and the fool --just another "body") --- basically it means --you can't take it with you --not honors nor glory nor wealth --- so do good with the items you have control over while you live --- power / titles / honor / weaith do mean something to the living --- however they mean nothing in the grave.

in other words by just looking at these 4 sets of bones --can you tell which set of bones were the kings / the beggers-/ the wise mans / the fools --- well which was which ? thus a lesson is learned . in death all are equal.

the triangle has 3 sides ---- --birth --life--death -- the holy trinity --(father/ son / holy spirit )=== creator --existance--death

the sphinx -- the great "puzzle" oif life to be solved

 

[findstuf]

nice find..

 

[BuckleBoy]

Dang! I missed an ID that was in German.



I am going to quit my job so that I can ID finds more.




Of course, we still have no idea what this item was for--only what it says...

 

[Woodland Detectors]

In other words, sell it. You can't take it with you!

 

[One mans trash...]

Wer War Bettler, Und Wer Weiser, Wer Der König Wer War Kaiser.

Who was the beggar, who the wise man, who the king and who was the emperor?

Here is a 1904 New York Times article about this badge. It was claimed to have come from Bavaria and to have no particular association with any group.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E02E2D91E3AE733A25757C1A9649C946597D6CF

 

[FunWithTreasure]

Wer War Bettler, Und Wer Weiser, Wer Der König Wer War Kaiser.

Who was the beggar, who the wise man, who the king and who was the emperor?

Here is a 1904 New York Times article about this badge. It was claimed to have come from Bavaria and to have no particular association with any group.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E02E2D91E3AE733A25757C1A9649C946597D6CF

Thanks everyone for all the info. It would be neat if the one he lost in the article was the one I found.

 

[TimC]

Nice find.