firefighter Posted August 4, 2016 Share #1 Posted August 4, 2016 I have one of these in Silver but have never seen a gold colored one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted August 4, 2016 Share #2 Posted August 4, 2016 I have a silver (steel?) colored one of these on my keychain. I don't remember seeing a gold one either. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted August 4, 2016 I have a silver (steel?) colored one of these on my keychain. I don't remember seeing a gold one either. Mikie Thank you. It doesn't appear to be painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted August 4, 2016 Share #4 Posted August 4, 2016 Same here.Have a silver but hadnt seen the gold.Nice variant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted August 4, 2016 Same here.Have a silver but hadnt seen the gold.Nice variant Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchrat1918 Posted August 5, 2016 Share #6 Posted August 5, 2016 These medallions were made by the treasury department from German guns captured at Chateau Thierry and awarded to volunteers for the 5th Liberty Loan drive (known as the Victory Loan drive). I've seen the silver version by the truckload over the years but never the gold. I wonder if the gold version was made for more important individuals, maybe people who have sold an extraordinary number of bonds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted August 5, 2016 These medallions were made by the treasury department from German guns captured at Chateau Thierry and awarded to volunteers for the 5th Liberty Loan drive (known as the Victory Loan drive). I've seen the silver version by the truckload over the years but never the gold. I wonder if the gold version was made for more important individuals, maybe people who have sold an extraordinary number of bonds? Thank you for the information. I did not know they were made from cannons captured in one specific area and that it was for one specific War Loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakethetrees Posted August 5, 2016 Share #8 Posted August 5, 2016 The gold ones are salvaged brass, not painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted August 5, 2016 The gold ones are salvaged brass, not painted. But why does it have, MADE FROM CAPTURED GERMAN CANON.? And my a gold/brass colored one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakethetrees Posted August 5, 2016 Share #10 Posted August 5, 2016 Made from captured cannon has been a phrase traditionally used on fund raising medals. When cannons were salvaged and scrapped, the first thing is to separate the non-ferrous from the ferrous metals. A lot of small parts, bearings, bushings, elevating wheels, etc., were non ferrous. The pressure required to mint even small medals is tremendous. I don't have the exact data to back this up, but based on my practical experience in metalworking its at least two or three to one, iron being the toughest to make. And, he tougher to make, the quicker dies wear out or break, making brass a more attractive alternative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchrat1918 Posted August 6, 2016 Share #11 Posted August 6, 2016 Thank you for the information. I did not know they were made from cannons captured in one specific area and that it was for one specific War Loan. Your welcome, after your brass one came up it made me very curious and I did a little more digging. I haven't been able to find a direct reference to the gold colored or brass ones. All I have been able to find is the basic information that I posted in regard to the 5th Liberty loan. I did find a thread on the forum that has a bit more information. I would post a link but I have no clue how to do that. It is entirely possible that these are brass as there would have been some brass on the guns and gun carriages. This would explain the scarcity since I think they used two or three guns for the metal. I still wonder if the brass medals were used for more prestigious recipients. Since you posted the thread I've found several of the brass/gold medals but they are far outnumbered by the steel version. Sorry I tried to post a link with another brass medal but I'm having problems tonight. I did buy one today and I will post a picture when it arrives. Wes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted August 6, 2016 Thanks to all for your help and information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchrat1918 Posted August 6, 2016 Share #13 Posted August 6, 2016 Thank you for turning me on to a cool new toy, plus I have a mystery to solve. Thanks to all for your help and information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted August 6, 2016 Thank you for turning me on to a cool new toy, plus I have a mystery to solve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topdcnut Posted March 27, 2017 Share #15 Posted March 27, 2017 I assume you checked this gem with a magnet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted March 28, 2017 I assume you checked this gem with a magnet? I have not. Never thought about. Do think the U.S. government could have been lying about these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topdcnut Posted March 28, 2017 Share #17 Posted March 28, 2017 Not sure , just know every other one has been steel. just knowing that would cause me to test it out of curiosity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted March 28, 2017 Not sure , just know every other one has been steel. just knowing that would cause me to test it out of curiosity. I was just kidding. It's buried now.I'll have to test it when I dig it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted March 30, 2017 Share #19 Posted March 30, 2017 I've wondered about these also. I have several of the more common silver ones on a couple of different suspensions. The picture below is of a gold-colored one I have. Its mounted on a ribbon with a "Chairman" bar that is also a brooch. Perhaps this gives some clues about why some were gold-colored. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted March 30, 2017 Share #20 Posted March 30, 2017 Here's a close up of the bar: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenitHora Posted March 30, 2017 Share #21 Posted March 30, 2017 Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettow Posted March 30, 2017 Share #22 Posted March 30, 2017 I scoured contemporary neespaper accounts and see no reference to brass medals. They cite two million being made but no mention of material other than captured cannon. They wete issued through the Federal Reserve to local war savings committees, schools, etc. to distribute. They came without suspension ribbons so any of those type are local modifications. It is probable that the brass plating is also a local modification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted April 5, 2017 I've wondered about these also. I have several of the more common silver ones on a couple of different suspensions. The picture below is of a gold-colored one I have. Its mounted on a ribbon with a "Chairman" bar that is also a brooch. Perhaps this gives some clues about why some were gold-colored. Dennis That is cool.I always thought it was a key chain type medallion. Great look medal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcCulloch Posted June 3, 2023 Share #24 Posted June 3, 2023 very cool. brass variant must be rare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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