Working on “Death Piles”

I haven’t been sourcing much, but I’m trying to make headway on my small death piles. It’s so silly to have bought things and then not take the necessary steps to sell them! Or in some cases, donate them. I dare say that 95% of us in the vintage biz have these piles. Still it’s not a good feeling.

So the other day, on a somewhat sluggish afternoon, I decided to do more research on the remaining old Catholic religious and military medals I bought months ago. I’ve been working through this collection (at a snail’s pace) and listing ones that have enough value. It’s tedious work and my heart wasn’t in it.

Still it needs to be done so I assembled my tools on the kitchen table–laptop, phone, jeweler’s loupe, small scale, silver testing kit, ruler, metal wipes, magnet–to get down to work.

I started researching this white metal piece and it turned out better than expected. Designed by engravers Vachon and Giron (V &G), this 1855 San Francisco piece commemorates the end of the Crimean War and is quite rare!

Here are the few solds that show up on Worthpoint. Yes, one sold for almost $7,000! This item has been sold at other auction houses, but so far I have not found out for how much. Not sure what price I’ll put on this one. I may put this up for auction on eBay.

This large medal pendant is beautifully detailed on both sides. One side shows a radiant Mary with angels at her feet and the Latin phrase “Quasi Aurora Consurgens” or “like the rising dawn.” The other, also in Latin with some abbreviations, reads when translated “Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Aloysius Gonzaga.”

The details on this are so finely done that I am surprised I can’t find any maker’s marks or hallmarks. I did test this (several times) and yes, it is silver and weighs a hefty 55.1 grams. So far I haven’t found one like it anywhere. I believe it is antique (as are many of the medals in the box) and has some value $$$. So this was a lovely find, but I need to do more research.

It’s a slow business, but I was encouraged that the first two I choose from the box are looking rather promising! Over the months I’ve listed about a dozen medals and three have sold. Not flying off the shelves, but still worth listing.

I’m also getting back to working on the $50 November vintage book haul.

Books don’t sell quickly for me. It’s hard to compete with Amazon, Abe, Thriftbooks and the like, but still for me as a bibliophile, it’s worth it. A labor of love. Over the months I’ve listed ten books from the haul and four have sold for a total of $134 (two vintage cookbooks and two vintage religion books).

Well, it’s back to work for me.

I’ll close for now, hoping wherever you live you are safe and warm.

Karen