browse these categories for related items...
Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental: Pre 1920: Item # 1460364

Click to view additional online photographs

Moylan-Smelkinson/The Spare Room
View Seller Profile
P.O. Box 4684
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
tel. 410-435-3738

Guest Book

This fancy gold lined iron band reads "Gold Gab Ich Fur Eisen", meaning "I gave gold for iron", and was part of a patriotic effort to fund the Austro Hungarian War whereupon German citizens were asked to donate their gold jewelry and other gold articles and in return they would receive iron rings with these patriotic inscriptions. The movement spawned from an earlier movement in 1812, when Germans were asked to donate their gold jewelry to help their country in the effort to defeat Napoleon during the Napoleaonic wars. It is thought that this fancy gold lined ring was only available to the gentry; the vast majority of the population received rings of only iron. The ring was originally part of the Hercules collection, a private collection formed in the UK around mid 20th century. The ring is a size 8 3/4 and is silver with gold accented border and gold along the inside of the band.