St. Christopher Gold Medallion with unknown hallmark- help requested

AlbyM

Full Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2011
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Location
El Dorado
Hi Everyone,

I'd appreciate any help from the forum on this. I recently un-Earthed a very old (I believe from the 1850s) St. Christopher Patron Saint of Travelers gold medallion at a gold rush '49ers site. The place was a campground where many spent the night to and from California from 1848 to about 1855.

Below you will see photos of the medallion as well of the close up of the hallmark. It has the 18k stamped on the back and then a hallmark symbol which looks like an arrow between a colon (see photo) or a U. Can anyone identify this hallmark? I've researched online and can't find any reference so I am hoping someone can help me here.

Thank you in advance!
 

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I dont know either, but that is EXTREMELY cool! Thats the first GOLD St Chris Ive seen posted! And an 18k no less! Somebody will pay above melt for it for sure! Especially with its age..the chain may be nearby...
Mud
 
Thanks guys for the kind words! I'm stumped why this particular hallmark is difficult to trace. I've looked all over the web and even posted on antique jewelry websites, but so far, nobody seems to know. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get the full story of the gold rush relic!
 
That is a really nice little medallion...looks to be in mint condition too. Congrats on a great find!
 
AWESOME gold find.
But I don't think it would be from the 1850's
The "18K" stamping was not a legal requirement in the U.S. until 1906 – so it is quite possible that the ring was made sometime after this date.

Doesn't much matter to the great find though.
I'd be doing the Happy GOLD dance for days if I found it.
Congrats
 
First off, that is an absolutely beautiful piece of gold right there.
I cannot help with the hallmark, but the impeccable condition of it, it leads me to believe that it is newer than 1800's:yes:
 
Thanks for the feedback so far. If the piece is newer than the 1850s that would be surprising to me as it was found among 49ers era coins and relics. That's not to say someone couldn't have come along since then and dropped it, but this spot is way off the grid.

On the plus side if it is newer, it should be easier to determine the maker's mark I would think. I've spent hours on line trying to match the maker's mark and have come up empty so hopefully someone in the know can chime in. Or at least let me know where else to look. :?:

Here are a couple of coins found within a few feet of this medallion to put where it was found in context. An 1848 English 2 pence ("Maundy money") and 1834 French 1/2 Franc found the same day at this site.
 

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Sometimes u find things and u cant imagine how it got there and it must be OLD. I once found a locket at a cellar hole in the middle of nowhere. It was deep. It was engraved it was 10k. Found among old indians and pocket watch pieces. I got home and opened it. It had clear plastic inserts for the pictures and was engraved 1968. I couldn't believe it.
To me, in my opinion, yours seems newer than 1840-1860's.by the hallmark and the look of it. But there's only one way to be sure. Keep researching the hallmark.
 

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Yes, the consensus on this site and others is that is newer than the 1850s era. Surprising but I guess that happens sometimes. :yes:
 
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