old religious medal

[Moe (fl)]

Found this religious medal at the beach.

It is silver and it looks old. Any ideas?

 

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[Montana Jim]

It's an old silver looking Saint Christopher religious medal.

You'll be hard pressed to ever know more than that I think...

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks Montana Jim.

How old can these medals be?

 

[Montana Jim]

Thanks Montana Jim.

How old can these medals be?

Good question... but they've been debated here many times.

Religious/Saint medals have been common since the 19th century. I can't speak to how old yours may be.

They are common even as antiques and often sold in bulk.

 

[Moe (fl)]

The seller says this one is 80-100 years old. Mine could be older.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-ss-ST-C...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item483484dba2

 

[ivan salis]

yep older --silver does rot down in salt water over time but its a very slow process -- I'd say thats got some age on it .

 

[Iron Patch]

I'd go with 20th century and silver plated.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'd go with 20 century and silver plated.

Me too, the style is similar to others I have seen from the 1930s max.

 

[Mackaydon]

St. Christopher medals are very popular as religious jewelry. Ancient Christian tradition describes Saint Christopher as a large man who helped Jesus ford a raging river--as depicted in your medal. Christopher is now the patron saint of travelers.

 

[ivan salis]

if silver plated -or chome plated -- it could be very new --however if its sterling silver or better --its old -- very old most likely --st christopher was popular as a "safe guard" travlers saint even long ago -- he was and still is highly popular with seamen as a "guardian saint"

silver does break down in saly water over time but it its high silver content its a very slow process --it oxides very slowly over time thats why old silver coins found in salt water are blackish looking

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks for the replies. I thought that it was St. Christopher too.

I know that it is definitely solid silver (not silver plated). Silver turns gray purplish after being exposed to saltwater over a long time. I agree that it is very old. I was just trying to get an idea of how old. My guess is 19th century but perhaps older. If you look carefully at the depiction of St. Christopher it is different than the depictions found on more recent medals.

-Moe

 

[Montana Jim]

Wouldn't the movement over sand further work to diminish the medal - more than just salt water? I don't know, just asking.

As for the design, me thinks it's mearly the artists choice, many different St. Christopher medal designs are available.

http://allaboutsaintchristopher.blogspot.com/search/label/Medals

That link shows some old medals... from all over the world - one is a glass medal circa 1150, Venice.

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks Montana Jim for the link.

I know the medal is silver. Silver coins also get the same color after a long time on the beach (saltwater environment).

My guess is that the medal is from around the 1890s but it could be much older as Ivan suggests.

-Moe

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Montana Jim for the link.

I know the medal is silver. Silver coins also get the same color after a long time on the beach (saltwater environment).

My guess is that the medal is from around the 1890s but it could be much older as Ivan suggests.

-Moe

more likely post 1900, I should have clarified earlier when quoting IP, I have no problem believing its silver

 

[Iron Patch]

Thanks Montana Jim for the link.

I know the medal is silver. Silver coins also get the same color after a long time on the beach (saltwater environment).

My guess is that the medal is from around the 1890s but it could be much older as Ivan suggests.

-Moe

more likely post 1900, I should have clarified earlier when quoting IP, I have no problem believing its silver

Silver or not I don't think it's early either.

I'm also very aware of what salt water can do, it surrounds me, 360 degrees! (but I rarely hunt the shoreline anymore)