Comments on: Boy Scouts and Nazis

By: Leonard Thibadeau

Leonard Thibadeau — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:34:08 +0000

Oddly enough I was sitting in a Boy Scout Committee meeting and I dug this coin, that I had been carrying around for a few days, out of my pocket. It was very tarnished, but on close examination I could see the words “Boy Scouts” and I could see the swastika. I’m worried about my memory since a coin like this doesn’t just jump into your pocket, but that is another story. My coin/medal is like others that are described, but the inscription “The Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark, N. J.” can be found on the side with the swastika under the words “Good Luck.”. This is in very small letters that I missed on the first inspection. Thanks to Google I found the Whitehead and Hoag Co. listed as a company in Newark around the turn of the century making advertising novelties. So it seems that even though my coin says “Manufactured by the Excelsior Shoe Co Portsmouth,O.” it was probably made for them by Whitehead and Hoag.
I also would like to know what the fourth symbol inside the swastika means.
And as far as what the coin might be worth, I would say the Good Luck value far outweighs any dollar amount.

By: Jeanne Johnson

Jeanne Johnson — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:04:52 +0000

I have one of the “coins” also. Mine says” Boy Scouts. Manufactured by the Excelsior Shoe of Portsmouth O.” The opposite side has the words “Membership Emblem of the Boy Scouts Club Good Luck” the dreaded “swastika” has in each corner from left to right top a horse shoe, fourleaf clover; bottom left I can plainly see but don’t know what it is, then a wishbone. Thank you for clearing up the mystery. I would like to know what the objects in the bottom left represent. Thank You

By: Emmie Walkup

Emmie Walkup — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:01:59 +0000

Where I can get updated dollar exchange rates

By: J.Boling

J.Boling — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:48:11 +0000

The most popular question seems to be about the value of this medal (that is meDal, by the way, even though it is made of meTal). Current values on eBay run from $4.50 to over $40, depending on condition and variety (there are at least 12 known variations of this “coin”, all by Excelsior Shoe Co.). Also, many sellers on eBay have a very inflated notion of what their “prize” is worth and that is reflected in their asking price. Realistically,$6-$8 is probably a good value in VG to Ex condition; if it is one of the varieties that actually says “Boy Scout” (not all do), you might realize 2-3 dollars more.

By: candice

candice — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:44:08 +0000

I dug up a coin as well putting a pond in my back yard. The full reading is ” good luck manufactured by the Excelsior shoe Co Portsmouth OH” it also reads in very small print ” schware(?) Milwaukee” the other side reads “the Excelsior metal shoe for boys July 1910″

By: AlbertHeider

AlbertHeider — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:18:12 +0000

I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE COIN HAS ANY VALUE?

By: David Davis

David Davis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:54:24 +0000

I am a metal collecter. I found one of these coins the other day. It has a date of 1910 on it. Is it worth anything.

By: franklin

franklin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:52:35 +0000

“It’s as happy and innocent as pulling on a wishbone.”

hmm. since when was Ceremonial Magick “innocent”?

By: Jim from Denver

Jim from Denver — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:05:42 +0000

use of the “swastika” by the nazi’s occurred in the late 30s and 40s. Obviously use of the symbol before the creation of the nazi party CAN NOT be related to the nazi’s unless somebody believes they invented a time machine and were able to influence symbolism before they existed.

Here is info on the symbol. Boy Scout use was no different than other uses prior to the 1930s.

The swastika is an equilateral cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same direction, usually the right, or clockwise. The swastika is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune and is widely dispersed in both the ancient and modern world. It originally represented the revolving sun, fire, or life. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit swastika which means, “conducive to well- being”. The swastika was widely utilized in ancient Mesopotamian coinage as well as appearing in early Christian and Byzantium art, where it was known as the gammadion cross. The swastika also appeared in South and Central America, widely used in Mayan art during that time period.

In North America, the swastika was a symbol used by the Navajos. The swastika still continues today to be an extensively used sign in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. In Buddhism, a swastika represents resignation. In Jainism, it delineates their seventh saint, and the four arms are also used to remind the worshiper of the four possible places of rebirth; the animal or plant world, in Hell, on Earth, or in the spirit world. To Hindus, the swastika with the arms bent to the left is called the sathio or sauvastika, which symbolizes night, magic, purity, and the destructive goddess Kali. In both Hinduism and Jainism, the swastika or sathio is used to mark the opening pages or their account books, thresholds, doors, and offerings.

The swastika was a symbol for the Aryan people, a name which, in Sanskrit means “noble”. The Aryans were a group of people who settled in Iran and Northern India. They believed themselves to be a pure race, superior to the other surrounding cultures. When the Germans looked for a symbol, they looked for a symbol which represented the purity which they believed they contained. The Nazis regarded themselves as “Aryans” and tried to steal the accomplishments of these pre-historic people.

By: sam ratliff

sam ratliff — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:46:31 +0000

the metal is a shoe tag from a shoe made by the Excelsior shoe Co. in Portsmouth Ohio. The shoe was a style of boyscout shoe. The building still exists and is occupied by Mitchellace Inc. a shoe lace manufacturer. I also have one of these coins that I found in the building while working at Mitchellace