Medal is from 1800s British ‘friendly society’

Tribune News Service

“D” is really a curiously formed kind of Gothic

“O,” which is the date letter used by London silversmiths in 1869-70. The maker’s initials “EL” were hard to track down, but one AOF source says medals such as this were ordered from an Ezekiel Loewenstark. That is all we know about the maker, except that his “EL” mark was first registered in June 1850, and he was working as late as 1875.

We also found the reference to some of these being made from solid gold of various purities. The reference is maddeningly vague, and we looked at a number of similar medals and their center medallions were always gilt silver. This portion of the medal was originally covered with glass (similar to a watch crystal), and we believe this was to protect the gilding from wear, which would have exposed the silver underneath.

The Ancient Order of Foresters was founded in August 1834 as a British “friendly society.” It is said they evolved from 300 branches of the Royal Foresters Society, which was founded in the early 18th century. Each separate unit was called a “court,” and the head of the local organization was the “Chief Ranger,” who was sometimes referred to as “Robin Hood.”

This particular medal is for Past Chief Ranger John Phillips, but unless this is the famous, ground-breaking geologist John Phillips (1800-1874, pardon the pun), this does not increase the value. The ribbon we see attached is not the original, which was red with two green stripes and a gold one in the center, plus various embossed designs in gold. Medals such as this one sell for about $100 at auction and should retail in the $175 to $200 range.