Need help with old silver badge

[James from TN]

Hello everyone. I found this old silver badge while relic hunting in 2008 at an old river town in Mississippi that was destroyed during the Civil War and would like to see if anyone maybe able to help with an ID or may have some information on what it was for. From the information I could find, the town was laid out around 1838 although the Indian's did occupy the area many years before that. It is made of silver, possibly from a coin, and is inscribed 2nd Class Spelling with some designs around the edge. It must have been important to who ever owned it since the hole has been worn through and looks like there has been soldier applied near the hole possibly for a pin to have been attached. The only thing I know about it is that the design around the edge is something that was used in the early 1800's and that the first "S" in Class is a style of writing that was used in the Declaration of Independence. Thank you in advance for your help, James

 

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[daroofa]

One room schoolhouses were divided into classes instead of grades. This was likely an award given to the best speller in the second class. Neat Relic

 

[BuckleBoy]

My advice is to do some research on the schoolhouses in that area. If it is a spelling award, then you can probably figure it out. There were very few schoolhouses in most places in the U.S. in the 1700s. (And this style of double "s" fell out of use shortly after the turn of the 1800s).

BUT...

My hunch is actually that this is not what this find is. I don't know what it is...but it would be a VERY valuable award in terms of silver content to give that out as a prize. I mean, folks mainly carried coppers and cut coins from day to day. That is a LOT of silver content to be given to a child. Most children in the U.S. didn't have much money until the 20th c--and they worked for the good of the household.

In short, I'm not buying that this is what it is. I have looked online for "Spelling" along with combinations of key words with no luck. It's hard to filter the results.


-Buckles

 

[Lucas]

My guess is this was locally made from a spoon. Federal shield, rocker engraving, etc. and the long double s would make it 1780-1820-ish.

Exactly the same workmanship as Indian trade silver. Very cool item.

 

[Silver Searcher]

:P

I thought it looked a bit like a Watch Fob

SS

 

[Lucas]

I agree.

Most awards (rewards) were printed cards that could be hand colored, and had a line to fill in the student's name. My guess is that this was from a large academy.

 

[DirtyMike]

Hmmm.... This is a good one. First off, considering it being made out of silver, I would assume it was made for an adult. And since it is in the shield shape, there could be military influence. My guess would be a military cadet award maybe.

 

[James from TN]

Thank you for all the replies everyone

When I first found the badge I thought it was navy related being close to the river. Being a Civil War relic hunter, this is out of my league of knowledge. The trade silver ID is very interesting since across the river I did find a small camp where I dug a couple of rolled brass arrowheads (at least that is what I always thought they were) with part of the wood shaft still inside and a couple of small silver pieces with a hole in them that maybe Indian related. Again, thank you and I will be keeping up with all of your post and possible ID's. James

 

[Lucas]

Oops, no, what I meant is it is the same style as trade silver, i.e. simple workmanship. I think your answer will be it is from a expensive boys' academy. I think it is pre-Civil War, made from a spoon or a coin. I think the shield shape is because it is Federal Era, and not military.

 

[jscorpio]

I was able to find a similar one at this link. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information about the item.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-sterling-silver-school-award-medal-spelling

 

[Fast_Dave]

At first glance I would have said Civil War ID tag, perhaps the soldiers name is Spelling?