Knights Templar Bell Medal, Julian RF-6

jonathanb

This is one of the pieces out of my big lot of expo stuff. I'm still taking and processing lots of pictures; more posts will be forthcoming.

This is a most unusual medal in that it is figural and extremely non-round. It was produced by the US Mint and is catalogued in R.W. Julian's Medals of the United States Mint as RF-6. The mint has made a few other non-round medals, but the ones I can think of are oval or rectangular. I don't know if they made any others that had a shape as unusual as this one. I can't help but wonder how it was struck.



Although this is listed in Julian, it is not pictured in Julian. It is pictured in Rich Hartzog's 1986 Price Guide for Julian, else I probably would have passed right by it. I don't know what metal this is made of. Hartzog says that for the copper version, "1700 struck in 1875-6, some or all silvered", so my best guess is that this is silvered-copper. There's a chance that this is one of the 195 silver ones he lists, but I'm not counting on that. This medal was also struck in white metal and aluminum.

Across the top of the bell is the text IN HOC / SIGNO VINCES. Up the left side and down the right side it says PHILADELPHIA / COMMANDERY No 2. In the middle it says 1776 / Centennial / 1876, and at bottom it says KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. It is approximately 50 x 52 mm

A most unusual medal.

jonathan

INXS

Very nice, I like that I can relate to it.

Shamika

Looks like silvered copper although it could be silver all the way through. It might be white metal as well, but it's not copper or aluminum.

Great info on this medal jonathanb.

Stuart

Very cool Jonathan!! -- Thanks for sharing with us!!

Mark

That is a truly intriguing medal! I don't own a copy of Julian, so can you perhaps give a few more details about the medal, eg, for whom or what was it struck? Or, who designed it?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

jonathanb

Sorry, that's pretty much all I have. The full listing in Julian is this:

"A considerable number of copper and bronze medals were struck in the mid-1870's, but due to the general confusion over various Masonic dies, it is uncertain whether these entries refer to medals already listed or to an unknown variety."

The full entry in Hartzog reads:

"A uniface piece, bell shaped, reading "Philadelphia Commandery No. 2" at sides, "In Hoc Signo Vinces" at top, "1776/Centennial/1876" in center, "Knights Templar at bottom, crown and cross at top, suspended by black and whie ribbon from a silver copper hangar in the shape of a helmet on cross and sword, with motto below. 50 x 52 mm."

My understanding is that Julian did his research directly from Mint records, so it sounds like he could tell that something was struck, but hadn't seen a piece to match up with the description in the records.

If anyone has further info, I'd love to hear.

jonathan

Mark

jonathan:

Thanks for the information. I think you have not only a really cool medal but also one with something of a mystery behind it!

Mark

fc

the davinci code, a relatively new book, explained that the
cross on that medal is related to catholicism. it has the extended
bottom which makes on think of the crucifiction of jesus.

in the book it said that the knights templar used a more square
cross, that did not have the extended bottom. hm.

pics of the templar cross

soo, it makes me think the designer did not know much about
templar history?

rmoss

<< <i>Very nice, I like that I can relate to it. >>



Me too.

dorancoins

<< <i>Very nice, I like that I can relate to it. >>



I save to concur, as I am a member of a Knights Templar commandery in Illinois (and a past commander at Ivanhoe Commandery #33 in Kankakee, IL, might I add!)