St. Eligius
Boosibri
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I found this in an antique store a few years ago for $5 (when silver was $40). ~1.3 oz of silver if I recall. I never knew that there was a patron saint of numismatics. Finally imaging this...anyone know anything about it?
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Collector, occasional seller
I know I've bought some coins that I should have consulted him on.
Saint Eligius (also Eloy or Loye) (French: Éloi) (c. 588 – 1 December 660) is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of veterinarians, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them.
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Here's some history, courtesy of forum member CoinHusker:
Eligius, sometimes known also as Eloi or Aloyisius, was born around 588 A.D. near Limoges, France. His parents, Eucherius and Terrigia, were Romans. Like his father, Eligius became a skilled metalsmith. After his apprenticeship in Limoges ended, he moved to Paris, where he soon came to the attention of King Clotaire II, who asked Eligius to make him a throne. With the materials provided, Eligius was so skillful and honest that he reportedly made two thrones instead of one. The King was so impressed that he made Eligius Master of the Mint. After Clotaire's death in 629, Eligius was appointed first counselor to Dagobert I, Clotaire's son and successor. Dagobert shared his father's trust in Eligius, and gave Eligius an estate in Limousin. Eligius used the estate to establish a monastery. Dagobert also gave Eligius a house in Paris, which Eligius converted into a nunnery to be presided over by Saint Aurea.
Eligius had been living under Irish monastic rule for some time, and when Dagobert died in 640 he entered the priesthood. His preaching won many converts, and eventually he became a bishop. Throughout his active pastoral life, he continued to practice his craft of metalsmithing. As Eligius' reputation as a metalsmith continued to grow, he became quite wealthy. He gave away a lot of his money to the poor. He bought slaves for the sole purpose of setting them free. He also built several churches.
The best-known legend about Eligius involves an ill-tempered horse (some sources say it was demonically possessed), which Eligius was trying to fit with shoes. Eligius detached the horse's legs, shod the hooves, and miraculously restored the legs to the horse. This technique was one he said he had been taught by Christ, who had performed it while disguised as an apprentice in Eligius' own workshop, in order to humble the proud blacksmith who had dared to claim that he was "master of all masters".
Eligius died on December 1, 660, at the age of 71, and his remains are in the Cathedral at Noyon. He is the patron saint of metalworkers, jewelers, farriers, numismatists, garage mechanics, and taxi drivers. He is also the namesake for the fictional hospital in the television show "St. Elsewhere." In Christian art, he is usually depicted in his episcopal regalia, with a crosier in his right hand and a miniature gold church on the open palm of his left hand. His feast day is December 1.
Latin American Collection
Point is, I suspect the OP's medal is rare -- and especially interesting, given its subject and the octagon shape.
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I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
These medals were produced by Phil Lampkin, Washington Coin Exchange, Washington, DC in the late 1960's.
Here's a link to an E-Sylum article about the medal, which also notes what Julian posted.
Here's the E-Sylum article referred to by the article above.
I searched for more via Google and found a few other things of interest about St. Eligius, but nothing more about the medal.
K
Jeff
Are you saying you don't see ANY photos in the entire thread?
Successful BST transactions with forum members thebigeng, SPalladino, Zoidmeister, coin22lover, coinsarefun, jwitten, CommemKing.
Have noticed this problem in other threads where pic is wider than page text. Using chrome browser. Anyone else not this viewing problem or know how to resolve.
The price of gold is set by faith, or lack of, in the currency it is priced in.
Latin American Collection
Tom
Is there any truth to the rumor that Sister Mary Yardstick was canonized as the saint of paddles used in auctions ?
Just kidding. Forgive me.
...Is there any truth to the rumor that Sister Mary Yardstick was canonized as the saint of paddles used in auctions ?
Just kidding. Forgive me.
CLICK HERE FOR THE VERDICT
Successful BST transactions with forum members thebigeng, SPalladino, Zoidmeister, coin22lover, coinsarefun, jwitten, CommemKing.
“I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am. When two expeditions of scientists, financed by the Royal Academy, went forth to test my theory of relativity, I was convinced that their conclusions would tally with my hypothesis. I was not surprised when the eclipse of May 29, 1919, confirmed my intuitions. I would have been surprised if I had been wrong. I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Albert Einstein- quoted in Saturday Evening Post interview (1929)
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