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Sterling 450

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:56 pm
by DougSmith
I have some medallions that were minted after 1958 that are marked as follows: Sterling 450, Sterling 22, and Sterling 3. Are these medals simply sterling silver, or do the numbers signify something?
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:56 pm
by kerangoumar
Most likely the numbers denote the style or the size of the medallions - if you describe them a bit more we might be able to give you more specific help.
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Medallion

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:50 pm
by DougSmith
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Here is one of the medals. There is no mint mark that I can find on obverse or reverse. The diameter of all those in question here is 34mm. The edge is marked STERLING 22.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:20 am
by byron mac donald
Hi Doug-

The description "Sterling" denotes a silver purity of 925/1000 the numbers could as Kerangoumar has said simply be the size or style. They do not refer to its silver purity in any way; if this is what you are asking.

Regards- Byron
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:12 am
by kerangoumar
Here's more information about the medal illustrated:

Sterling silver medal struck to commemorate the first U.S.A. manned space flight.
Obverse: View of rocket on take-off over the date
"MAY 5, 1961 PROJECT MERCURY MANNED SPACE FLIGHT, CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. U.S.A. REDSTONE ROCKET".

Reverse: View of capsule over the globe and the words
"ASTRONAUT ALLAN B. SHEPARD, JR. IN SPACE CAPSULE 'FREEDOM SEVEN' TRAVELED 115 MILES INTO SPACE AND RETURNED SAFELY TO EARTH ON MAY 5, 1961".

Circular: 1 5/16" (33mm) in diameter. "STERLING" on rim.

Issued by the Coin-of-the-Month Club. This Club is not the COin of the month CLub on the net, which is aimed at children. As it says nothing particular about the number it suggests that the number refers to the mint at which it was struck....? Now there's a search project for you.
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thanks

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:29 pm
by DougSmith
Thanks very much for the information. I did not know who minted these medals until now. The silver versions are relatively rare compared to the nickle ones. It had occurred to me that perhaps the numbers were serial numbers.
Thanks
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:05 pm
by kerangoumar
where are the numbers located??? I suppose you could contact a coin shop and ask them -
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