Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

A Guessing Game Challenge

French-Medals

Medals. I had a slew of them.
Not because I won them.
I don't think I ever won a medal…. Maybe as a child I won one in 4-H for sewing… My Mom made me take sewing lessons when I was eight years old.
But if I did when a medal it was certainly a medal for-
"The Girl Who Tried to Sew and made a Mess Instead."

Holy-medals

When I was nineteen I wore a medal when I lived in a monastery. It was a cross. Everyone in the community wore the same cross. But I had to give it back when I left. We also were given a ring. A beautiful ring. That we could keep. Years later, after I left the monastery, I gave my ring to a boyfriend… and when he died I never found it.
For those of you who are reading my blog for the first time you are probably taking in that last sentence with a whole lot of "What?!"

Old-religious-medals

Over the years the brocante gave me the chance to find many medals. I have a fondness for religious medals that are worn smooth from holding it in prayer. Prayer smooths out many rough spots doesn't it.

Two-medals-religious

In France when a baby is baptized the Godparent's give their Godchild a religious medal. Most French people wear it into their adult life.

Though I have never seen French Husband's baptismal medal come to think of it.

Religious medals

Do you wear a medal?

A medal

She use to wear a medal but she got tired of him always trying to touch it.

….. Silly girl getting tired of such a thing!

Medals

I am giving two medals away. If you would like to have a medal put add your name to the comment section and tell me if you ever won a medal and why you won it. I'll pick a winner tomorrow.

Also for the second winner Here is the guessing game challenge….


(Photo Source Ebay.)

 What is this?
(The first one to answer it correctly will win a medal too.)

Comments

118 responses to “A Guessing Game Challenge”

  1. karon

    Many many years ago back when I was a teenager and lived in a small town in Scotland with my family, I took part in the annual festival. I was thrilled to be part of the ‘official party’ where an Honest Lad and Lass would be voted for by the towns people. Well I didn’t get anywhere near enough votes (think it was only my family who voted) to get a prestigious title, but I was part of the group. We did lots of fun events from Scottish country dancing to riding horses round the countryside, all in the name of tradition. There was lots of fun and a lot of money raised for charity, I have such wonderful memories of that one week all those years ago. On the last night of the week at a big charity gala dinner we were each presented with a little silver medal on a ribbon, a keepsake, a reminder. I don’t need the medal to remember but I still have it and will pass it to my daughter who loves stories about when Mum did fun things like that.
    I think the photo shows a medal mold for pressing the medal designs on to soft metal.
    Enjoy your Sunday in France.Here is Scotland we have brilliant sunshine, minus 1 temperature and a dusting of snow, lovely.
    Karon x

    Reply
  2. danasmith

    I won a medal when I was 7 years old for swimming across the Nellis Air Force Base officers pool. It served as my pass so that I could come without bringing a parent. I hang it inside a glass dome on my bookcase. It was one of my proudest moments.
    Dana

    Reply
  3. Sue K.

    No, I’ve never won a medal, though I’ve received a couple of religious medals – I think one was for the St. Dominic Savio Classroom Club (back in the day when they didn’t normally accept girls in the club).
    My guess on the photo – something that makes a pattern on communion wafers?

    Reply
  4. Betty

    yes, I won a medal 4H Club for sewing and cooking and food preservation. I also have medals from DAR

    Reply
  5. Rhonda

    I don’t know what it is but maybe something to do with Easter. I can’t ever remember receiving a medal for anything. xxx

    Reply
  6. michelleb.

    When I went on a plane for the very first time, I wore a St. Christopher medal pinned to my bra. After that, he would often be in my pocket or purse. I don’t know why, but he was never on a chain around my neck.

    Reply
  7. susan

    Sadly, I have never won a medal, a trophy or a blue ribbbon. I did have a poem published in our local paper when I was 10. I was so very proud.

    Reply
  8. Laura

    I won a prize for my plum jam in college but it wasn’t a medal. Then in Girl Scout camp, at the end of our two week camping session I was awarded a ribbon for being The Camp Worrywart…(not as proud of that one).The closest thing I can come to a medal was the Sunday School pin that I was given each year as a child…the first was round and then each subsequent year hooked on the bottom…forming a long pin.
    My guess for the challenge is a stake of some kind to be used in cooking or serving lamb during the Easter season. (Obviously I have no clue!) 🙂

    Reply
  9. Maria Fazio

    I think the plaque is from a cemetery, a marker of some kind. It seems to show resurrection on the last day. I think the lion is “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” meaning Christ.

    Reply
  10. Karen Reilly

    Well, now I feel sorry for myself since I never won a medal. I did win a ribbon once in high school for my artwork. Does that count?

    Reply
  11. Karen

    I love your blog!.. and I have never won a medal, but ribbons, yes, in horse shows for the few years I had the courage to enter… that wasn’t very often. A blue ribbon only once, when the judge was trying to sell me the horse I was riding…not a very fair win.
    My children also received religious medals when they were baptized, a very common italian tradition, and I had them wear them through childhood as a form of protection.. or atleast it gave me some peace of mind. They still have them, but they are mostly in the jewelry box.

    Reply
  12. ann

    I won my medal, age 12, for dancing – the Waltz, the Foxtrot and the Cha Cha Cha! pity they all went out of fashion.
    is the item in the photo a marker for the garden, a silent prayer asking for protection for the growing crop?

    Reply
  13. Lee

    Well, I’ve won ribbons for riding, but not medals. I was given a lovely medal for my confirmation by my grandmother. I wore it every day. On the same chain I had my dad’s baby ring (he had passed away when I was about 12). One day, as a sophmore in college, I changed my necklace. That same day my room was broken into and the only thing taken was the necklace. It broke my heart for many reason, but really made me sick due to the fact that whoever stole it was someone that I knew. I still think about it. I have since bought medals for my godchildren. You have an amazing story, and an amazing collection. I have bid on so many medal lots on eBay, and not won any of them. SIGH. I hope to win yours.
    The thing- it looks like an engraving plate. I hope you enjoy it, it’s probably gorgeous in person!

    Reply
  14. Becky F

    Hi Corey, The last medal I received was for completing a half marathon (I walked it). I do have several religious medals and usually wear my Miraculous Medal of the Virgin Mary. Have a beautiful day, Becky F

    Reply
  15. Vicki

    I can’t remember ever winning a medal…even though I love old ones!!! Perhaps it is a grave marker???? Thanks for another wonderful give-away!!!!

    Reply
  16. Lilly

    Hi Corey. My guess is that that is something that puts an image on a host for Catholic mass.
    No medal but I had a little ID bracelet that I put on in kindergarten and wore into adulthood. I think the metal clasp finally wore through and I don’t know where it is now….

    Reply
  17. Lilly

    Just looked it up online to check. The item is tongs for baking hosts. The large pattern is for the host for the Celebrant and the small patterns are for the wafers for communicants….

    Reply
  18. Penny

    My medal came as I was graduating 8th grade. It was a medal for good sportsmanship, which mainly meant I lost or came in second more times than anyone else and didn’t whine or cry about it. Only one graduate was awarded the medal and the winner was chosen by classmates. It has served me well in life, which has been a good one but one in which I am almost always second fiddle. I still have the medal in a little suitcase that was mine as a child. In fact, I opened it up about a week ago and ran my fingers over all I have to remind me of my childhood. I smiled the rest of the day.
    Hmm. The item you display looks like it depicts the crucifixion and ascension of Christ. I have no idea and so will guess it to be a medal carried by a French Legionnaire.

    Reply
  19. Heather-roo

    Hi Corey dear,
    I still read your blog every day, but I’ve been overwhelmed and haven’t written a comment lately. You blog is wonderful – and so are you, and so are your readers.
    I won a medal in high school for the senior who had done the most for the school. (It wasn’t a very big school, and I didn’t think I had done that much, except for pulling a lot of weeds in the inner courtyard. Oh, I remember now I volunteered to help in a kindergarten class, and I tutored a little.)
    I wore a cross at the monastery, too, and had to give it back. I still have the ring, but I’ve gained weight and it doesn’t fit.
    My guess is that the thing is the top half of a baking iron for making hosts (bread for communion). You can just see the hinge at the bottom where the part you can see joins the bottom part that meets it to flatten and bake the dough.
    Love always,
    Heather-roo

    Reply
  20. Country French Judi

    Hi Corey: I am like you never won a single medal for anything. I should get a metal for trying all the times I did. I thought that I was going to be the first to say that it was a press for making communion hosts because i am a Eucharistic Minister and every Friday I go to our local hospital and give commun ion to the sick catholics. Well when I clicked on to respond low and behold everyone else knoew what it was also. I am actually thrilled to see so many people DO KNOW what it is!

    Reply
  21. Julie Loeschke

    I have not won a medal,but have a sweet story about a medal. When I joined the Catholic Church at Easter 2005, I took St. Joan of Arc as my patron, and Joan as my confirmation name. My friend C., who is not Catholic, had acquired a St. Joan medal when she was a little girl. She didn’t remember where it came from, but it was always in her jewelry box. From time to time she would come across it, and think, “I’ll never wear this, I should get rid of it”. But she always just put it back in the box. When I joined the church,she gave it to me and said, “Now I know why I kept this for 40 years. Just so that I could give it to you!”

    Reply
  22. Candace

    I was your classic over acheiver and people pleaser growing up so I have received many awards. But now I just want to do what pleaes me and gives me joy and that is my art and being with my family.

    Reply
  23. Cheryl at Casual Cottage Chic

    Well, I’m a bit late reading your blog this morning and it looks like everyone knows that the item is a press for making communion hosts…bravo to all who knew!!
    So…have I EVER won a medal? I didn’t really “win” the medal but I wore a small oval medal of St. Teresa, given to me when I made my first communion. I think I was 8; long, long ago! I was SO proud to wear it 🙂 Your picture of the medals on the long pin reminded me that my grandmother always had a similar grouping of medals pinned to her bra, close to her heart. Thank you for tweaking that lovely memory of her this Sunday morning.

    Reply
  24. Jeanette Mc.

    I don’t want to win becaue I have won a medal here or there throughout my life and as I read through the comments I see some people haven’t and we should all get a medal once in a while (sometimes just for making through a tough day!). I just wanted to say your collection is beautiful. I’ve just started making jewelry with vintage bits and bobbles and now I’m inspired to be on the lookout for these.

    Reply
  25. martha in mobile

    I had not realized the dearth of medals in my life. I have never won a medal, but my DH has a box of mouldering medals that he won as a child for swimming. He was a little minnow!
    If it isn’t too late, please enter me. Thanks!

    Reply
  26. Nancy

    My first medal was awarded in junior high school for academic honors. I received several more through the years for service, academics, sports, citizenship, etc. My most favorite one was for being selected Junior Miss. (they don’t do crowns)
    I don’t think I ever did anything to win a medal after I became an adult except for winning some silly “olypmic” game on a cruise ship! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Nancy

    Haha….I totally misspelled olympic! Need.More.Coffee!

    Reply
  28. Sandy

    No medals for me. I am not a champion at anything. Although the closest I have ever come is in second grade when when we had a fundraiser and I sold 100 boxes of candy and received a parchment certificate with a bright shiny gold seal in the middle above my name. I still have it tucked away in a scrapbook.

    Reply
  29. dancing kitchen

    I’ve not ever won a medal…and I would like to start, today. Send me one pretty lady!

    Reply
  30. Kathy

    Hi Corey,
    I love your blog – I read it everyday. When I graduated from college I won an honors medal because my GPA – by one point – made it into the honors level. I have no idea where it is. I also have my grandmother’s Miraculous Medal and I love to wear it as a necklace because it’s so pretty.
    Kathy

    Reply
  31. paula s in new mexico

    no medals won here
    my first thought was that it is the head of a shovel/tool to cut peat….but why religious images would be on a shovel head is my clue that i am wrong….

    Reply
  32. elle

    HI Corey,
    I have so enjoyed all your posts!!! I think the “item” was something from a grave site–maybe up by the headstone–a marker of some kind. I have won a medal–strangely enough for being the fastest girl runner in 5th grade!!!! I am still not sure how that happened!!!
    elle

    Reply
  33. Rhonda P

    I’ve never won a medal, a ribbon for third place in a dog show with my collie but no medal. I do, however, remember seeing my Grandfather’s Purple Heart Medal. He looked so handsome in his uniform, you just inspired me to find that photo of him.

    Reply
  34. Lynn

    Hmn. Other than in sports, medals aren’t really a part of things where I grew up. So never won a medal. But I did win a trophy once. I can’t remember the exact wording of it, but it had to do with contribution to the music festival. I’d placed first in a few of the categories (speech, piano, flute, vocal), but then did a bunch of accompanying for others as well. Anyway, for whatever reason, they thought it worth awarding me the trophy that year. That was back in High School, I think my last year. I can’t say as I could even enter, let alone place, in any of those categories these days! LOL. I don’t have the trophy anymore. It had to be returned to be passed on the next year.
    I agree that the object is a medal press. Yes?
    Loving the medals, and your comment that “prayer smooths out a lot of things.” Perfect.

    Reply
  35. missy

    oh corey,….prayer does smooth things out…. I can’t spell it yet…just learning French….but b’niece et vous…….
    missy from the bayou

    Reply
  36. Lili

    I adore this post and those amazing images. It makes me want to start wearing a medal. I lost a tiny medal pin I once found that was a gold fleur-de-lis and this post made me remember it. The memory of something once lost can be a powerful reminder of how we are blessed with tiny treasures throughout our lives. -Lili

    Reply
  37. Deb

    Hello Corey
    No “medal” wins for me – some ribbons and pins but not medals.
    For you “guessing game challenge” I am guessing it is an egyption boundary marker of some sort.

    Reply
  38. yvonne rosenfield

    Is that an old Foot scraper?
    I won ribbons not medals. I did have an old
    St. Chris medal that was gold and very worn my Great Aunt gave to me. It had a car on one side and madonna and child on the other . It was very worn. I bet her husbands driving did that.
    have a great Sunday…
    yvonne

    Reply
  39. Chris

    I’ve won one medal that I can think of and it was awarded for running a half marathon.
    I’ll guess that your picture depicts a press of some sort. One could imprint the images on the press in hot metal and then trim and polish the metal to make medallions.

    Reply
  40. Bramble

    HI Corey! I was a 4-her too and we got mostly ribbons and achievemet pins, not really medals. I guess my favorite “medal” these days are the ones the kids win!
    Have a great week! Bramble

    Reply
  41. meredith

    I won a “coupe” playing “boules” here in France once. I think my opponents must have had too much rosé or I got real lucky.

    Reply
  42. Penny Peberdy

    I once won a medal on a twinning trip to France when the town I lived in then (Kenilworth, UK) went to visit their twin town in France (Bourg-la-Reine. One of the things arranged was a boules match and my team got a medal for coming last!

    Reply
  43. Celeste

    Nearly 6 decades ago my Grandfather’s cousin came to visit from the Azores and brought a gold medal of Our Lady of Fatima for new born me, and still wearing it as I write. Papery thin and lovely as ever. (The medal that is!)
    That is as close to winning I’ve come, although I have been called a winner…
    My love to you Corey

    Reply
  44. Laura

    No medal-winning for me, either! I don’t like the stress of competition!
    GUESSING GAME: I believe it’s a coin press…maybe.

    Reply
  45. carol in CA

    I never won a medal but used to wear a St. Christopher medal as a child.

    Reply
  46. Star

    I’ve won ribbons before but I can’t recall ever winning a medal. I do have one thought, a St. Christopher medal a boyfriend gave me about 30 years ago. I still have it.

    Reply
  47. Rhonda Snow

    Good morning
    How bizzarr is this… to start my day off with dejavu… are we cousins? 😀 just yesterday, Anna and I were cutting out leafs for the musical she is in…Anna is going through my sewing tin…she pulls out the one and only medal I ever won. She asks “what is this?” I told her it was my silver medal I won for the dress I made while I was in 4-H… to this day (35+ years) I still have the jumper. We ran to the closet laughing… and there it was hangin on a metal hanger… my prize, the purple jumper(less the blouse,which I made as well) I asked her to try it on… she looked at me as if… yeah right… then out of her mouth… what other colors were there to choose from? What is wrong with this color I asked? No response…just a look… I can’t remember if I was fortunate to have picked my color…or if this was leftover material from mom.I looked at the seems… flawless! O Mrs. Lanzi would be proud of me! My husband even got a giglle when I told him, my experience of being in a fashion show and walking the catwalk… at 10 and chubby! I still use the goshforsaken ugly apron I made for my first project… now I know that was leftover material… but O how wonderful the memories our mother’s have given us! Love ya…

    Reply
  48. Chris

    I’ve never won a medal but I still have the medal my mom gave to me on my wedding day. It’s a small oval medal with the Blessed Virgin on it and it was sewn inside my wedding gown. It’s still there.
    Maybe the photo is a mold for a wax seal for envelopes.

    Reply
  49. georgie

    No medal here. I wear a small gold cross that Dad gave Mom for Easter when I was an infant. He hand engraved the design and inscription. Reminds me that Dad gave Mom a trophy that he made in the 1960s. It had a beauty contestant figure and the plaque on the base read To… World’s Greatest Wife, Mother, Cook, Gardener etc. Wonder if Mom still has the trophy?

    Reply
  50. Paivi

    Never won a medal, nor are any religious medals used here in Finland, but after confirmation at the age of 15 I got a silver cross and used it many years. The godparents give special silver spoons to their godchildren.
    The only medal in our house is the one granted to my husband by the President of Finland, applicated by my husband’s employer for his 30 years service.

    Reply
  51. Mmd. Tortoise

    My medal came during eighth grade graduation from a catholic school. The principal stood and gave a speech about the nature of the “Religion Award” He said many nice things, but I must admit to daydreaming a bit while he was speaking. I was taken from my reverie when he called my name( much to my surprise) and presented me with the award which consisted of beautiful medal of St. Therese and a prayer book bound in white leather. As a young girl of catholic upbringing, but one also of the confessional, it was like winning the lotto.

    Reply
  52. Melissa

    I’ve won ribbons at school but not medals.
    The implement looks to be cast iron – is it for baking and perhaps put an image on a dough before it’s baked? Whatever it is, it looks interesting!

    Reply
  53. Laurie

    I’m a marathon runner. So, the medal count is high. The medals are not of gold, silver nor bronze. Just a long piece of ribbon with commitment, determination and completion dangling from my neck. It’s a medal that’s been rubbed many times over. Please God, just get me to the finish line.
    Laurie
    SF

    Reply
  54. Tace

    I won a medal for….gutter ball champ. Lowest score bowling. Very meaningful award that, it’s good to be recognized for the skill of tossing bowling balls left and right into the gutter. Pins, schmins, anyone can hit those… (haha)
    The metal doohickey with engravings looks like a log splitter to me.

    Reply
  55. Bev

    I’m here racking my brain. I think that I got a medal when I graduated from high school for academic honors in English. I have no idea where that is now.
    You are right that prayer is an amazing way to smooth things out. To think of all those prayers and a loving God who hears them all!!!Just boggles my mind. I love the history of such prayer markers that people use to remember about God.

    Reply
  56. Miss Robyn

    I am obsessed with vintage catholic bits.. and have it stated in my profile on my blog.. I remember when my friend had breast cancer and had a mastectomy, we pinned every conceivable holy medal to her hospital gown.. sadly, she died. but I do believe the medals helped as she died with such dignity and peace.anyhow I dither as usual.
    do I wear a medal? YES. when I converted to Catholicism, I bought myself a Miraculous Medal and wear it ever single day. have done for over 20yrs….
    have I ever won a medal? NO
    never, ever won a medal. not even in your online antique store.. cause I am always beaten at the post..usually it is my night time when you list in the online shope & no matter how late I stay up waiting for you to list the medals, I can never seem to stay up late enough. so I go to bed and when I get up, I rush to the computer to see if there is one and yes, there often is but it has been sold… so I would love to win one in this giveaway dear Corey 🙂 xo

    Reply
  57. Sylvia

    The last medal I won I don’t remember recieving or it being placed around my neck, you see, half way through a Half marathon race I started getting heat stroke and because you NEVER EVER quit a race no matter how much you hurt, you must cross that finish line! I did finish by God’s Grace and crossed the finish line without knowing who I was, where I was at and who my family was. Yes, very scary, to this day it still brings tears to my eyes but Thank God that there was an ambulance near by and I was taken to ER where I spent a couple of days recouperating, rehydrating and relaxing my tired body. That was 2 years ago, I was 44 years old and haven’t raced since.

    Reply
  58. Pauline H

    I ate my medal……Twenty years ago my children gave me a large chocolate medal for “The Best Mum in the world” obviously I no longer have it!
    My guess that the metal object is a press to produce communion wafers is flawed when I think that to press 1 priest’s wafer to 1 congregation wafer isn’t sensible.They must produce small wafers in large batches of ,say 50 at a time.Still fingers crossed for one of you freebies.

    Reply
  59. Kristin Wight

    I think the only medal I won was when I coached the School Lego Robotics club. I was very excited about my medal, probably more than the kids! Ok, everyone in he competition got one, but it doesn’t matter to me!

    Reply
  60. Kristin Wight

    Ok the guessing game… I think it is for either stamping or printings OR rubbings…

    Reply
  61. Kat

    No medals here, just a few ribbons and a plaque (Miss Ideal Dental Assistant!)Ha! I do have several old framed religious documents from my DH’s family here and in Germany but medals didn’t seem to be part of their experience. Would love to have one!

    Reply
  62. Gretchen Baldauf

    I was given a religious medal by my sweet mother-in-law that I wore pinned to my shirt when I was pregnant with my son. It was a very high-risk pregnancy but with many prayers and help from friends and family, he was born healthy, as was his brother, three years later. That medal and the accompanying prayers were so powerful!

    Reply
  63. Michelle

    I have several religious medals, when we were expectiong our youngest son Dominic we purchased a St.Dominic medal and I will give it to him on his 1st communion. As every one has already said your ccomment on prayer smoothing things out is beautiful.
    I have won ribbons and trophies but never a medal.
    I love your blog!!

    Reply
  64. Jeanne

    I roller skated competitively from about 9-12 years of age and won many medals for that. Never wore them and I think they are gathering dust in a box somewhere, unless they have been lost in one of the many moves of my adult life.

    Reply
  65. pam

    I don’t remember winning a medal for anything, But I have won a few ribbons from 4-H, and the county fair, though I have no idea what became of them. I love the thought of a medal worn smooth from much prayer. My guess is that the metal piece is some sort of embossing tool to stamp the image on things?

    Reply
  66. Patricia Ginda

    I have never won a metal, only ribbons in track in high school. I think the item is a marker found at graves in grave yards for religious prayer societies?!?

    Reply
  67. joanny

    Corey
    FUN – Love when you do this always love to read the comment section — now let me think– I know somewhere in the time I did — however, I should have received a metal for raising two boys by myself for many years… or maybe they should receive a metal for living with me? Just Mom.
    Joanny
    the dowsers daughter

    Reply
  68. Janus

    Yes, I’ve won many medals throughout Jr High and High School for excellence in wind ensemble and marching band. They may have not been for a Heroic deed but i had to endure being called “Band Fag” for all those years. At least I wasn’t a “Choir Queer”. He He!

    Reply
  69. Joanne from Idaho

    I have never won a medal, but I’ve worn one kind or another for many years. The one I’m wearing now is a small silver Notre Dame, which I got when I visited the Notre Dame in Paris a couple of years ago. I want to come back someday and visit more of your beautiful country…

    Reply
  70. Marilyn

    I would love to win a medal. I think the last picture is a grave diggers special shovel for burial of famous people and to show respect when digging.

    Reply
  71. marlis

    Oh
    Corey, medals. Love medals.. Iused to covet the one my brother got while he was in French school. And then I joined Girl Scouts and had many medals (thanks to mom who pushed gently). Are those embossing plates for religious publications?

    Reply
  72. rebecca d

    I won a metal in fourth grade for winning the school wide spelling bee… I only entered because I got out of gym (and climbing those horrible ropes)… I only won because of a fluke easy word amongst much harder words… I had to go to the district wide bee…I was (still am a terrible) speller, and knew I was in over my head… I was out in the first round… still I won a metal I never thought I deserved…but nobody believed me. I still feel bad for Susan Witt who should have been the winner.

    Reply
  73. Sue McGettigan

    Not sure that I’ve ever WON a medal, so it’s pretty safe to say that I have NOT won a medal 🙂 My mother gave my daughter my old jewelry box on her 18th birthday, and inside were some treasures – including my baptism, first Communion and Confirmation medals!! My dear daughter allowed her old mother to keep the medals, she gets to keep the jewelry box and everything else that was in it.

    Reply
  74. Lorelei

    Oolala! Love the medals!!! I have won a medal (St. Catherine’s Medal)for community service to St. Leo College and earned medals (Army Commendation, Good Conduct, etc.) when I was a WAC. I gave new medals away this year in my Christmas cards. But the worn medals are truly special…. Guessing that the item shown in a cemetary marker of some sort… hope I win…

    Reply
  75. Kate Mai

    I won many music medals when I was a girl. Now my daughter wins them.

    Reply
  76. Lorelei

    Or perhaps the guess should be a griddle or mold for communion wafers….

    Reply
  77. Emily Gayhart

    I never won a medal, – just ribbons. (Swim meets growing up & for dried lavender at the state fair (best in class.) –But a treasured medal I applied for & acquired was a medal my great-great uncle was awarded for serving in the Civil War. It was awarded by his state, but went unclaimed. Learning of the existence of his medal I applied for it & as his now closest living heir was awarded it.

    Reply
  78. Karin

    Nope, no medals for me. My children have them for things like spelling bees, academic excellence and the Special Olympics, but I have none.
    I’ve been looking at the “thing” and it looks like a medallion press to me. But,then, I could be wrong. I usually am. 😉
    I love your collection.

    Reply
  79. mindi

    I dont think I have ever won a medal come to think of it. But, funny you brought up 4H, the only time I ever sewed something I could be proud of,my scarf. How funny! Thanks for reminding me of memories. I would love to have some of your religous medals. They would make a lovely addition to a necklace or braclet. Let me know when you get more, I never seem to get to the online store in time.

    Reply
  80. Lisa S.

    The only medal I ever had my father bought for me when I was 11: it said “Speling Champyon”…obviously not my strongest subject!!Funny guy… How I would love to win a French one!!

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  81. mindi

    I forgot to guess, and I have no idea, it looks like a fabulous door stop. LOL.
    Can’t wait to find out!

    Reply
  82. Betsy

    No medals won here. I can’t even remember any competitions for medals. I have a perfect attendance pin for Sunday School, but they should have given that to my mother…
    As for my guess, it is an engraving plate.

    Reply
  83. Lisa

    In the US children typically get ribbons and trophies. I won my first ribbon in elemntary school for a race.
    Guess – embossing/engraving plate perhaps for bibles?
    I hope there are more in your online store soon.

    Reply
  84. Genevieve

    Is this a waffle iron for making hosts for communion?
    I think it might be because there are big and little sizes.
    Just a guess.
    (I could tell you a great story about naughty school girls getting into unconsecrated hosts and squirting cheeze whiz on them for appetizers, as they waited for after school choir practice to begin. I could go on to tell you about the nun who tried to keep a straight face when those same little Catholic school girls were caught with chipmunk cheeks, frantically trying to dispose of the evidence. I could continue on to tell you how long it takes little girls to scrub and polish each pew in a very, very large church.)

    Reply
  85. Tamisha

    I did win a ribbon once for an art piece I made in 8th grade. And I think that is the stamp or die they use to make the medals. Am I right???

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  86. Marie

    Nope…..never have won any medals. Maybe my luck is about to change? Sure hope so!
    Marie

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  87. Trouvais

    Hi Corey…love the little blue medals. I went to Sacred Heart school for years, holy cards, medals. Received a blue one with the Virgin Mary, a smaller medal one (can’t remember why)…and then a few medals for Tennis camp. Bought a few of those be-ribboned ones for my son when he was a mite little chap, and then a few grosgrained UK Boar war replicas recently. Charming. The grosgrain is at least half the charm (pun intended). Trish

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  88. Michelle

    I won a medal this summer for running in a race. I didn’t win, but they gave everyone medals. I still have it sitting next to my bed. Is the picture the head of an ax? As always, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  89. Lydia Clingerman

    Wow, I totally forgot about the medals I won in my younger years for baton twirling!!! So I simply must find them because until your blog I’d forgot all about them.They would be totally awesome to use artfully in some way.

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  90. Ana Maria

    Reading these blogs have made me Laugh out Loud (the cheese whiz on the unconsecrated hosts)(in the 8th grade 3 of my friends and I were mad at the nuns for not giving us snacks after we had helped all afternoon, so we broke into the Principal’s office and opened up the cookies and chocolates we knew she had there! – our parents had to come in, we were threatened with straight F’s, but she recanted and forgave us all. God bless Sister Louis Angela!)and smile warmly remembering 4H (flawless shirtwaist dress), spelling bees and later, my children’s medals. I still have my baptism medal of St. Therese of Lisieux. It’s 18K gold which is quite soft and it has my baby teethmarks.
    In agreement with many others, my guess is that it is a press for Communion hosts.

    Reply
  91. Laurie

    You’ve done it again Corey. Aren’t these so lovely? The only medals I’ve gotten were for girl scouts. Lots of fun and hard work. Still have my sash with everything on it. All the guesses for the metal piece are great. I also thought it was some kind of a grave marker. However, the wafer press seems more reasonable. Can’t wait to find out. Laurie

    Reply
  92. Bobbie

    I never won a medal of my own, but my boys won several in sports, choir and theatre. I encouraged participation as I was so shy I missed out. Love your blog and all your ideas.

    Reply
  93. NJSue

    After waiting 34 years to have kids, my proudest medals are the stretchmarks I “earned” while I was pregnant with each of my sons. Waiting for the right man and the right time does, in my opinion, show my mettle, but being a mom is the bravest undertaking I have ever considered.

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  94. Kristy

    That is a mold for the medals! And yes, I have earned and wore a medal in elementary school when I was a Brownie. You started with your Brownie “button” upside down, and when you did a good deed, you turned it right side up. Such a great idea.. wish we had those kinds of things these days!
    Corey! I want to win one of your medals, especially the one of the lovers!!!!
    Kristy in Oregon

    Reply
  95. Patty

    one of my proudest moments was crossing the finish line at the NYC marathon 2 years ago – everyone got a medal, but it still means a lot to me because it represents months of hard work training for it and because that training got me through the grief of losing my best friend after a very short bout of cancer.

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  96. Natalie Thiele

    I won a medal when I was 12. It was an ice skating competition. I won third prize, a bronze medal. My sister, who was in a different category, won a gold medal. (She was the only one in her category.)
    As much as I love those beautiful medals, and as much as I LOVE free stuff, I am not a religious person- so please don’t consider me. I am just enjoying remembering my program and that competition 45 years ago.

    Reply
  97. angela

    OOH I love medals and will claim all that I have as my own! I did win a medal back in the 6th grade for winning the region Bible Drill Competition. I went to State and can’t remember what happened there, obviously I didn’t win that one. Wish I could guess anything for that last piece but all I can says is it looks like something used at a cemetery.
    thanks Corey,
    angela

    Reply
  98. melrose

    I won a medal for riding my horse to the top of Mt. Diablo AND back down again! I haven’t thought of that ride in many, many years….and I have no idea where that medal is. I do have the certificate…somewhere (grin).

    Reply
  99. Delia

    Hi Corey:
    I probably won a medal in grade school for a spelling competition and I won medals in my senior year at a Catholic high school for “best English literature” and “best French” student. 🙂
    Also, I wear a beautiful old, gold Miraculous medal almost every day (you probably know which one I’m referring to……it is modeled off of instructions based on the Blessed Mother’s apparition to a French nun–Catherine Laboure) My mom found her original medal in an antique shop and my two sisters and myself had it molded and struck in 18K gold because it’s so beautiful……
    Thanks for always sharing your wonderful memories and spiritual gifts :))

    Reply
  100. Susana Stevens

    I came about this medal in an unusual way. About a month and a half after my mother passed away, I was in my bedroom pinning something with a straight pin, when I dropped the pin. When I bent down to pick it up, right next to it was a beautiful little medal of Saint Teresa. I had never seen this medal in my life. Saint Teresa was my mother’s favorite saint, because her mother’s name was Teresa. This was a much needed heart-touch in my grief, and I still have no explanation for it’s appearance.

    Reply
  101. colleen

    I won a medal once for Irish dancing.
    I think the item you posted is a mold for communion wafers

    Reply
  102. Sara Barroso

    If it’s a wafer press why the two smaller forms? I’m sure I’ve won a medal for some group related activity.. Basketball in junior high or building a science experiment (with my dad) I honestly don’t remember.

    Reply
  103. Elaine L.

    I have never won a medal. But, there is always a first time for everything.
    I have no idea for the metal object is, but it seems like some type of marker.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  104. anne

    I am not sure if I have ever won a medal, but my boys have.
    But I do have a little Baptism medal. I would love to win a French Medal, how wonderful of you to give us the chance.

    Reply
  105. Marie-Noëlle Roland

    I was very young and went to church (in my hometown).
    It was August 15th, “la fête de Marie”.
    When the mass was over, we stepped out of church and several people were there holding little baskets of medals of Marie.
    My mother saw a sparkle in my eyes and bought me one.
    Oval. Blue. Cheap. Bliss !

    Reply
  106. Diana

    The metal I won was perfect attendance in church. I worked so hard to get to church
    taking the bus one hour each way, and if I was not at the busstop on time I would have to wait for another hour because our buses ran on the hour. Thanks for the memories.
    Little things bring a smile to our face.
    Have a super day.

    Reply
  107. Lynn Warren

    This looks either like a grave marker or a wafer punch/press.

    Reply
  108. Lynn Warren

    I won my first and only medal in third grade; first place for writing a simple musical piece. I was on pins and needles for several months before I was finally called up in front of the student body to receive my medal. It was puny and sort of cheap looking but boy was I proud of it. I wrapped my medal and put it in my desk and went to lunch. That was the last time I saw my medal and the last time I wrote a song.

    Reply
  109. shannon in oregon

    just ribbons from horseback riding.
    i’m going to guess that it’s a stamp for sealing wax.

    Reply
  110. Sherry

    I have never won a medal…now I am feeling rather inadequate. LOL. My guess would be a grave marker.

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  111. annieelf

    Baking mold for communion wafers?

    Reply
  112. Gwen

    I haven’t won a medal but have won a ribbon…SAGA (Smocking Arts Guild) for a smocking design submitted in “picture” smocking. It was a picture of Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, Rabbit and a cheshire cat at the tea party…completely smocked. Not just the characters but the entire picture. Never did that again.

    Reply
  113. barbara gillies

    i also have never won a medal but i felt like i did when my son won his first medal in soccer. i was so proud i thought i would burst open. the comraderie, sportmanship and hard work of the whole team made me proud to be his mother.

    Reply
  114. Patt

    It’s a late comment, BUT…The most precious medal to me is the medal of my wedding ring my husband slipped on my finger as we said our I DO’S. The engagement ring was nice, but it was the wedding ring that made me his wife. The wedding ring that started our life together. Mr. & Mrs Thompson…I still remember the proud chills I got thinking of the totality of that moment. AND…thank your reader for the memory of turning my brownie pin right side up. I had forgotten that particular moment. I must have been beaming. And last but not least the St Christopher I bought at the Vatican, blessed by the Pope. I wish I had it now, I gave it to someone special a long time ago. Thank you Corey for sparking such memories.

    Reply
  115. Bonddi

    The metal inscribed object is either: 1) early Christian branding iron; or 2) catichismal wafer manual imprinting device.
    FYI, medal are not won, they are awarded.

    Reply
  116. Barbara

    I wear a ring that was my Grandmother’s. It is silver with the Virgin Mary image in the center, although She is quite worn down. I usually remove my rings in the evening because sometimes they cause a rash on my fingers from soap getting underneath them. This ring I don’t remove, and it has never given me a rash.

    Reply
  117. Katy S

    Just found your blog and enjoy it very much! I lived in Chatou, France for a couple years and miss it very much!
    Can you tell me anything about the little blue medals you show here? IO haver a very tiny one that I found in the drawer of a buffet I purchased when I lived in France but had never seen another until this pic on your blog. Thanks, Katy S

    Reply
  118. Hope

    Here goes! I was in high school, one of 5 kids, so I didn’t get to go the the class ceremony, but upon my return to school on Monday morning, I was called down to the guidance office.
    Not sure of what I had done wrong (my brothers were infamous for trouble, but I was proud of my record being unmarred)…I proceeded with caution. I was then asked why I wasn’t at the class ceremony. I explained that Friday night was “grocery night” and since my mother didn’t drive…my parents time was preoccupied buying the groceries for the next week for the family of seven, and that I really wasn’t into class ceremonies, and that…well you get my point.
    To my surprise, I had received not one, but TWO awards! 2 medals with beautiful red, white and blue ribbons on them. I couldn’t understand how I could have won a medal! With an excited curiosity, I asked what they were for?
    “You won them for exemplary test scores and grades” the guidance counselor explained. “You won one in Mathematics, and one in English!”
    In my mind I’m thinking “no way in hell I won a math award”…Algebra and I were not the best of friends, despite the repeated attempts by my kind although transparently motivated Algebra teacher promised me that this would be something I would use again and again in my life, perhaps even for “recipes!”
    After I closed my dropped jaw, the nice lady in guidance told me that each student was only allowed to choose ONE award. I had been nominated for TWO, but I had to choose which one I wanted. The one I did not choose would go to the next person on the list. I queried who that person would be? Of course, on the math list…
    To my surprise, it was the neighborhood no-it-all boy, only child of privilege who was chomping at the bit apparently to get his hands on the math award. I hesitantly asked “Who would receive the English award?”
    She told me that the same person was second on both of the lists!
    It took me about 2 seconds to declare that the mathematics award belonged to ME! I thought that this medal would be a declaration of all I aspired to be – smart, pretty, respected, successful – and NOT HIM – the boy who wanted this so badly! I thought that at a time when women were still burning bras to prove their independence, certainly a medal with the words “Mathematics” emblazoned in the bronze would be the one I would cherish for life! I proudly walked back to my locker to put the medal in my purse, returning my glance to my hand often almost in disbelief that this was MINE! Of course I couldn’t proclaim to anyone that I had won. We had our reputations to defend, and being a math “nerd” wouldn’t be too cool for my curriculum vitae in the old high school peer pool! So I quietly placed it in my purse, took it home, and shared my joy with the 2 people I knew would appreciate and understand my joy – my parents.
    It wasn’t until I had a son of my own that I was able to go into my jewelry box and pull out the old medal. Sure, the red, the white and the blue are not as bright and vibrant as they used to be, and the bronze finish on brass has darkened and dulled a bit in 31 years, but I was able to show him, when he was having difficulty in math, that anything is possible if he just tries. Set your mind to succeed, and success will be yours. I pinned it on my 8 year old’s shirt, and let him wear it for the rest of the time he did his homework. I told him if he wanted to wear it outside and show his friends, he could.
    It was with a familiar glance that he said “That’s OK mom, the kids will only think I’m a nerd” and he took it off and gave it back to me. As he was walking out the door to play he turned around to me and said, “That’s pretty cool mom. You must have been really happy when you “won” that medal”. I told him I was and he responded “Some day I’m going to win my own!” and he dodged out the door to play with his buddies.
    As I picked up the medal to put it back in my jewelry box, I remember looking down at it one more time and thinking how that one moment of disbelief was able to be held in the highest of honor and proof that my son was truly a “chip off the old block”. And we never had to struggle with math very often afterward. There was an unwritten, unspoken challenge that he too would earn his medals in this world. And all was good.

    Reply

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