posted 05-23-2009 06:26 PM            

Today I've ordered the silver(?) wedding coin. I'm curious if it is a silver one and I think it is not a original one which were given with wedding by the bridegroom to the bride in a silver wedding box. I've never seen such silver box or wedding coins my self, so this one which is placed into as pendant(?)hope translation is good)fixed at a chain. When it is a original it should be great of course but I think it can be a later copy. If it is silver I'm of course glad, knowing they made also amulets of pewter or copper.

The front shows a marriage couple of two young people dressed in clothes from the 17 th century, the back side shows two pigeons I believe a sign of love. I suppose the rim has some Latin words and if I have received it I will ask if some member will be so kind to translate these words.

Watching the postman and waiting until the mailbox is filled with a original coin of the 17th century (what I doubt to be honest) it is nice to know that even in the 17th century a man had to be fortuned to give some silver coins in a special silver wedding box to show his love, or want to buy a new bride? . I think the first. Reaction (or threads)from feminist are not taking serious of course.

Serious continue is that I will react again if the coin is received and I can make better photo's from it, in stead of a unclear computer screen. Meanwhile I look for more information about this subject of course.
The coin is 4,6 cm.

posted 05-24-2009 08:30 AM            

The silverbox ( "knottenkistje", dutch word was given to this special silver box) it was called like this, because when the Dutch law/tax changed this kind of this little bridegroom wedding treasures given to the father of the bride.

In stead of the "knottenkistje"(silverbox) there were used a cloth in which some silver wedding coins were buttond up.

I think the button( dutch word translation "knoop" was formerly called knot).

So button cloth can be translated as "knottedoek". Or silver button box is translation for "knottenkistje". I hope you don't fell in sleep with all these interesting? information.

The baroque style is used formerly,also decorated with sleeping of standing putto's.

The silver boxes were engraved with marriage symbols from the bible or Greek mythological design.

The bride offered the lady a silver box and said the words:

Do you want it?
If you want than you keep the silverbox.
If you don't than you give it back.

You see the Dutchman were also in the 17th century smart? I show you some knottenkistjes/silver wedding boxes, perhaps you already knew these one's but I always like history behind pieces.

I hope corrections will follow because it was a attempt from my side!

The silver wedding boxes were still made in the late 19th century but I suppose that nowadays a silversmith likes to make one for a wedding present or make a coin for the wedding day just for remembering.

posted 05-24-2009 01:51 PM            

I've have found two examples which you can buy at internet, but that aren't these one's.

Sometimes at auction websites, they offer the old one's from about the 17th century.

Quality and age form expensive values.

I wonder if people who marry in Scandinavia, if their family still give silver pieces of flatware etc. at the wedding to the bride and bridegroom or is that only in Norway?

I hope all is well in Denmark and I wonder if you have bought something special made of silver, than I hope you will topic again.

posted 05-24-2009 02:04 PM            

by the way I am comming to Amsterdam soon. I am going cruising from Copenhagen - UK - Norway - France - Netherlands - Belgium - Guernsy.

posted 05-24-2009 03:47 PM            

The Rijksmuseum gets his renovation until 2013, only for 504 million euro they do the job.

A part of the museum is still open and from 21 April 2009 is started is a exposition of dutch paintings from the 17th century. There are also some beautiful silver objects to see made by the silversmiths Vianen (late 16th century and early 17th century).

posted 05-24-2009 05:08 PM            

I for my part love Varnmeer and the Nightwatch is somehow the theme on board ms Eurodam.

posted 05-29-2009 06:04 PM            

At the front the medallion is decorated with a 17th century dressed couple and the man ask the lady to marry.

Above the couple sunlight falls over them. In the rim are standing the latin (?) words:

praeside coelitati haltiu luceque beatum.

I think the medallion is a copy of a earlier medallion because in the 17th century the letter U was writed in words as a V so it could have been original:

praeside coelitati haltiv lvceque beatvm.

I will try to read the worse letters standing in a rim at the back side, where two pigeons sitting a garland with flowers and fruit and there above two burning harts.

The two little marks is a old sword with indication of the figures 835(second silver alloy)and a (star + N + 10 stamped in a little rectangle)that could be a assay office mark?

These kind of marriage coins were given in the wedding box of silver to the bride and the coins early dated were made from gold.

posted 05-29-2009 06:43 PM            

If a better Latin scholar cares to step forward with a more accurate translation I shall be only too pleased. I recall my parents were not too impressed when I tried to claim some credit for having been "top of the failures" after one Latin exam at school.

posted 05-29-2009 07:38 PM            

Are you familiar with this kind of medallions or wedding coins, since a short while I learn the history.

I have to find out the date and also if it is a reproduction from a earlier one. So a lot of research will be done.

posted 05-30-2009 12:13 AM            

My Latin is pretty rusty , but it sure looks like auphile hit it right on the button .

posted 05-30-2009 04:04 AM            

So research is helped a lot by this information. Until now original there were given golden or silver(?) coins in the wedding box/caskets to the bride. When I'm right from late 16th until 19th century.

I suppose there are romantic people who use this tradition now a days for instance this reproduction of the wedding medallion/coin.

It could also made nowadays for remembering the wedding as special gift to the family.
When I know the *N 10 mark it should be great, like you said Dragonflywink these kind of silver marks can be find at jewelry.

Some jewelry from my mother-in-law made in combination in little decorated Delft blue painted stoneware pieces. There's no Year letter indication mark to be find. Normal there are four silver marks : Minerva head, silversmith/factory, year letter,silver lion with figure II or 2.

I've checked it Dragonflywink and the sword is from the period 1906-1953. In that period they stamped the alloy of 835 or 925 into the sword. Concern the back side and text in the rim it is not to translate the form of the letters. I think this coin's matrix isn't made very clear or the letters were not made clear enough at this size. Perhaps some day I see a original one that should be great, I will continue the research but thanks again you both for reaction and supply of information.

posted 06-02-2009 02:50 AM            

Perhaps the letter N is used as the first letter of family name Niekerk? I don't know if there is a special book about these silver marks (combination of star-letter-number), if there is can you please send me the name of it.
You can find a lot of this silver marks over here placed at little pieces, like you told for instance jewelry. It should be useful to know a book about these one's, if it exists of course?

I make a copy of your reaction and put it (again) with the medallion as combination with your reaction.