Thought It Was A Badge At First

[Natman]

Hi all,

I don't usually post here, but I was curious as to what this might be..it was found in an old yard. It's 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches..the back and front are the same (back is plain) but the front may have had some kind of inscription..you can barely make out a circle in the middle of it, and there may be some kind of design/writing on it as well. The holes at the top made me think it wasn't a kid's metal badge, but who knows. It was placed in hot peroxide for quite a while, but this was as clean as I could get it.

Thanks for any help,
Nat

 

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[PBK]

I think you're right!

It looks like the main portion of a souvenir badge similar to this one from the 1893 Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair). The same stock badge drop was used with a variety of hanger bars.

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[Natman]

You are GOOD! Thanks!!

Nat

 

[PBK]

Any time, Nat!

 

[Angelo]

PBK!

That's freaky!

Did you plant it in the old yard where he found it?

Tony

 

[DD-777]

Awesome I.D. PBK!!! New post idea : PBK - How does he do it?!

 

[River Rat]

Fantastic find, Nat! PBK is on the ball.

 

[Ohio Jerry]

PBK..you are phenomenal
Nat,I can see the "18" on the left side of your badge.Any chance of getting the "93" to show?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

PBK!

That's freaky!

Did you plant it in the old yard where he found it?

Tony

lol

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Definitely a 1890-1900's commemorative medal of some sort. If you've decided that that is as clean as you can get it, you might want to get a cheap, brass bristle brush and scrub away. Usually they are made of copper or brass, so you should see some improvement. I have several that are identical in shape, but show different events. Might be surprised at what you find.
CurbdiggerCarl

 

[PBK]

Following up on some additional info in a PM, Nat and I were able to identify it as a souvenir badge depicting the Cascades, a feature of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (world's fair) held in St. Louis in 1904. Here's a similar badge:

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THE CASCADES​

The Cascades were so popular that famed ragtime musician and composer Scott Joplin immortalized them in song. Click on this link to give it a listen:

http://www.perfessorbill.com/midi/cascades.mid​

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