Thread: Ibbotson tool mdeallion

HI everyone,

For some of you saw or old tool gurus.

I have been asked to help in identifying this medallion. It was found in an archaeological context in a cave dig in southern Minnesota USA. Of interest would be information about the maker and tool it came from (saw?). If possible the range of years that this medallion would have been produced would help in the dating of this layer of the dig. From other material found near it we believe it to be about 1900. The medallion is bronze one inch in diameter and the post on the back side is 3/16 inch square and has been slightly twisted. There are no threads on the end of it as they were most likely twisted off.

I have a link to a photo of the medallion at the end of this post. Here is the description sent to me.

"Hello Dennis and any other interested parties.

I was able to scan the Ibbotson Brothers medallion that we found in
sinkhole D4971 in the Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA on May 30 2009. The
image is pasted below. The medallion is 26 mm in diameter (~ 1 inch in
diameter). Any thoughts or information that any one can provide on when
this medallion was made will be much appreciated.

The printing and figure on the metallion are raised above a flat
background. When I first looked at this image my eyes wanted to see the
letters and figure in negative relief or imprinted into the metal..
When I started from the bottom and imagined that it is lighted from the
lower right side, my eyes finally see it correctly.

I am not sure who the figure is. He is wearing what looks like a
Greek or Roman helmet, is clothed only in the helmet and a cloak over
his shoulders and sandals and is riding bare back on a horse. He is
holding a short sword and is killing something with wings on the ground
(a dragon?, a griffin?, or some other mythical flying beast?) It looks
more like a Greek cavalry soldier image."

The image on the medallion does not match any that I have found on the web for the the Ibbotson Bros. company. This is the photo of the medallion that was emailed to me. Any help or ideas about the medallion or the tool that it may have come from would be much appreciated.

Thanks much
Dennis
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu32/dennyom/IbbotsonBros2-1.jpg