1918 Silver 1 Franc World War I Identification Coin/Token!

What's up guys...I've been on vacation for the past 5 days and itching to get back to the dirt to dig.  Went to a new site yesterday and attained permission to dig this nice-

looking patch of ground.  As I said, by this time I was quite ready to do some digging as I was dang near in withdrawals  Around lunchtime I got a really good signal

and out popped this Silver coin.  At first, I thought it might be a Reale but when I raised it up and looked at it; it was a 1918 1 Franc.  I was thinking "pretty cool" until I

turned it over and saw that it was engraved!  Right then and there I knew that that elevated this find from just a "pretty cool" find to a "terrific piece of History!!"  

It was singularly awe inspiring to be able to hold an item so linked with not only American and European history, but with World history!.....it leaves

you lost for words for a piece of time.



Front


Back








The back reads:

"CH. MECH. R.C.CURTIS                    
         BAT. D
         111TH
           F.A.
          A.E.F."

Chief Mechanic [Mr.] R. C. Curtis, Battery D, 111th Field Artillery, Army Expeditionary Forces  

WoW .. That really is a neat piece of history! Great Save! 

Nice piece of history.  Please rearch the soldier.   BANNER!!!!!

The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces. The AEF helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive (at Château-Thierry and Belleau Wood) in June 1918, and fought its major actions in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives in late 1918-your coin's year!!
Don...
Source: Wiki

        You "Time Travelers" have gone from the Rev War to WW1 in those Virginia sites. That's a great historic find and will make a super research project Josh. HH, Quindy.

Nice piece of history.  Please rearch the soldier.   BANNER!!!!!

Thanks Ronbo and I will do all that I can to research this soldier and have the history to go with his I.D. Token.  I owe him that much.

Great find...I hope you find out some information about Mr. Curtis.  Maybe you can return it to his family.

I vote banner...

NJ

I've seen reference to WWI  "111th Field Artillery" as being based in both Maryland and Virginia.
Since you found the coin in Virginia, you may be very close to finding the heirs to this soldier.
Don.......

Not pretty cool.....VERY COOL!...fabulous find, congrats to you!

"In the weeks that followed the Allies' victory in World War I on 11 November 1918, a U.S. Army quartermaster officer of the Services of Supply (SOS) sat down to write his portion of the after-action report. The report was neatly typed, thorough, and impressively honest. It outlined how, almost out of nothing, the Army had forged the SOS, the logistics organization that supported the 3 million Soldiers deployed "over there" to Europe as the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)."
The source of this and more on the AEF can be found here:
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/arti.../over-there-army-expeditionary.html

Another great find   This hobby continues to shock me.. Hunting a colonial/CW field and something like this pops up out of nowhere   A personalized token like this that is directly linked to a WWI soldier that lived here and served in France, deserves some recognition.    WTG Josh

FREAKIN' UNREALE!! (great pun, eh?) I can't imagine your reaction upon seeing the engraving. Banner in my book. 

I'll bet your local VA can give you assistance in ID-ing this hero.
A pic of you returning the coin to one of his heirs would fetch a quick "Well Done!!"

Wow Josh, that is amazing. You got my vote. Amazing piece of history.

Terrific find!!! What a great piece of history to dig up. Congrats!

            Josh, after I replied this morning, I got to thinking. I don't recall EVER seeing a WW1 i.d. tag in a foreign coin. Just think, that soldier was there in that bloody and muddy mess serving his country. Good luck on the research. I must VOTE BANNER formally. That's a SUPER discovery. HH, Quindy.

Absolutly fantastic find, Great piece of AEF history, banner in my book. Hope you can find more out about this soldier. Keep us posted and good job. Congrats. :hello2:Hardrock

You may wish to check with the Virginia National Guard Historical Collection. They reported this:
“Soon after America entered World War I, most Virginia Guard units were organized into regiments with the now familiar designations of 116th Infantry and 111th Field Artillery. While the 111th saw no combat, more than 300 men of the 116th Infantry were killed. Among them was Winchester's Captain Robert Conrad, who was the highest-ranking Virginia Guardsman to die in the war.”

Virginia National Guard Historical Collection
c/o Virginia Army National Guard
Public Affairs ATTN: VAAG-PA (Historian)
BLDG 316, Fort Pickett
Blackstone, VA 23824
Office: (434) 298-5321
(434) 298-6297
Fax:     (434) 298-5320
Source: http://vko.va.ngb.army.mil/VirginiaGuard/history/overview.html

Great piece of history. Value? Priceless. Hope you can locate more info on Mr. Curtis.

OH! How VERY, VERY cool is that! What an excellent find! Looks like you've got a start on finding info for him, now I hope you can locate his family. I think it was Don from Kansas? that found an old coin with similar info..maybe CW era...and he had quite a journey returning his coin.

       Congrats on such a wonderful find!!


                              Nana

Congratulations, That Is One Awesome Piece Of History!!!  

What a great historic find! It's like reaching back in time and shaking hands with this soldier from WWI. Kinda gives me chills thinking about it. Hope you can find out more about him and maybe someday return it to his family. How cool would that be?  Banner worthy.

 Does it suprise me Josh.....Awesome find Buddy!!! Hope the vacation was Great 

My Holiday is detecting, sorts that problem out.

As you say, very nice piece of history, I would try & return that one to a living family member.

My Holiday is detecting, sorts that problem out.

As you say, ver nice piece of history, I would try & return that one to a living family member.

Yeah well I haven't seen my father in over a year, I detect every single day   So I thought that I could give him 5 days

That is an awesome find.
Dman

Wow,
What a great piece of history you dug!

Nice piece of history.  Please rearch the soldier.   BANNER!!!!!

Thanks Ronbo22, it definitely is one of the most unique items that I've EVER found!

Amazing find. I look forward to watching this one and see if it can get back to a family member.
 Well done. One day I will be able to hunt every day,, but I would give up every hunt to see my Dad again.
Thanks for sharing.
TnMtns

It's certainly much better than a mere silver coin. Congrats on that one 

 

Great piece of history !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   My Grandfather served with 1st Pioneer Infantry in the AEF in France and occupational duty after the war in Germany !!!!

I vote BANNER too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great piece of history !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   My Grandfather served with 1st Pioneer Infantry in the AEF in France and occupational duty after the war in Germany !!!!

I vote BANNER too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks KyFreeBird!  This is the first of this type that I've found and tthank you for the compliment, your grandfather's service and the Banner vote

Nice piece of history.  Please rearch the soldier.   BANNER!!!!!

I second that!
Great military find.
Carl

Outstanding piece of history for sure!!!  BANNER!!

I received this response today:
Received your phone message... yes, you have the VA Guard history office.
We do not have personnel records here though - only unit history records,
photos and archives.  Your coin sounds very interesting and the name Curtis
I recognize from the 111th Field Artillery archives.  I will get with the
Fort Pickett/VA Guard historian on Monday and we will see what we can find
out.  Will be in touch again next week.
Thanks for getting in touch!
Bev Boyko
VA Guard Collections Manager

I'll add to this thread when I hear more.......
Don.....

I received this response today:
Received your phone message... yes, you have the VA Guard history office.
We do not have personnel records here though - only unit history records,
photos and archives.  Your coin sounds very interesting and the name Curtis
I recognize from the 111th Field Artillery archives.  I will get with the
Fort Pickett/VA Guard historian on Monday and we will see what we can find
out.  Will be in touch again next week.
Thanks for getting in touch!
Bev Boyko
VA Guard Collections Manager

I'll add to this thread when I hear more.......
Don.....

WOW what a fantastic find I collect military things  and have never seen a dog tag like that before. I'm voting banner    good luck with the research.  Dean

Way to find the history!!

WOW what a fantastic find I collect military things  and have never seen a dog tag like that before. I'm voting banner    good luck with the research.  Dean

Thanks BoonDocker

Banner, banner, banner!
I don't think there is one WWI American veteran still alive. (If Frank Buckles has passed away)
Carl

That is a great find for sure.

Josh that is an awesome find!! Looks like you have another nice new spot to dig!

My Holiday is detecting, sorts that problem out.

As you say, ver nice piece of history, I would try & return that one to a living family member.

Yeah well I haven't seen my father in over a year, I detect every single day   So I thought that I could give him 5 days

I agree, this is a banner find and my vote is in. 

But, I'll be watching this thread to see what happens. This is a find that really needs to be returned to a living family member, if that's possible. Good luck. 

That most certainly should be on the banner!  Helluva rare find!

[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BANNER BANNER BANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Hi Sentinel, I've been watching TNet for a few months now mostly as a "Lurker" as you guys call us but this has got to be one of the best finds that I've seen old or new!!!  That is an amazing find and is a

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BANNER  BANNER BANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/size]

find for sure!  You have my vote

My Holiday is detecting, sorts that problem out.

As you say, ver nice piece of history, I would try & return that one to a living family member.

Yeah well I haven't seen my father in over a year, I detect every single day  So I thought that I could give him 5 days

I agree, this is a banner find and my vote is in.  

But, I'll be watching this thread to see what happens. This is a find that really needs to be returned to a living family member, if that's possible. Good luck.  

Thanks RPG

That most certainly should be on the banner!  Helluva rare find!

Thanks Romeo.  I think so as well.  Never seen one of these up there

Banner, banner, banner!
I don't think there is one WWI American veteran still alive. (If Frank Buckles has passed away)
Carl

Thanks again Carl.  Yes, that's what I thought, only one remaining alive.   

Great piece of history Josh       Fantastic First World War find!!!!   You have another vote for  " banner "   CMDdawg

 Very interesting find.

Great piece of history Josh         You have another vote for  " banner "   CMDdawg

Thanks Dawg.  You got a brother's back

[God bless our veterans! Thank you for your sacrifices!]

What a cool find!!!

I'm voting banner, too!

This is definitely a banner find.  Hope your research turns up living relatives.  Would be a fitting end returning this to this soldiers heirs.

HHHH

What a cool find!!!

I'm voting banner, too!

Thanks Kimsdad

Awesome finds    Congratulations   

Very, very cool.  One of the ultimate metal detecting finds.

 

Great Historical recovery Josh I would vote Banner...but it seems you have had plenty Banner votes without much luck

great find no matter what mate

SS

I voted banner

I voted banner

  i double that " BANNER BANNER"

                                                  tinpan

Great Historical recovery Josh I would vote Banner...but it seems you have had plenty Banner votes without much luck

great find no matter what mate

SS

45 minutes later it's there weldone Josh on the Banner

SS

Josh,
Fantastic find brother!!! 
Well deserved banner for an excellent piece of history.
-Doug-

Congrats on the banner Josh.. I know its bittersweet when you dig nice things and lose SEVERAL good Tnet buddies along the way.. Ive always tried to give everyone's finds the credit when credit is due, regardless of how often they find nice things.  Well Done Josh

Great find, and a tremendous service the research to find this Heroes heirs!
 BANNER!!
             

Congrats on the banner...it took a little longer then I thought it would but now it is up there where it belongs.

Great job and good luck on the research.

NJ

WOW!

I'm watching this thread!

Great Find! CONGRATS!

HH Joe

           Josh, congrats on a very rare and special BANNER!!! I'm sure that will honor a special place in your fast growing collection. HH, Quindy.

that has to be one of the neatest things I've seen here on Tnet.  Damn I need to get down and hunt across the coleman bridge more often 

Congrats on a well deserved banner find.

 

God I Love History!

That is part of what makes this site so great. Congratulations again sir.
TnMtns

                                                 

                                                       N~

Congrat's on find and the Banner.

Great Historical recovery Josh I would vote Banner...but it seems you have had plenty Banner votes without much luck

great find no matter what mate

SS

45 minutes later it's there weldone Josh on the Banner

SS

Thanks Colin   and the rest of you guys who voted for this item and helped put it on the Banner!  I appreciate each and everyone of your posts!

SUPER DUPER find!!!  Congratulations!  Breezie

Wow, another amazing find comes from the duo team from Virginia!  Great find Josh, congrats on the banner!! 

Ironman

Hampton (VA) Public Library reports a book containing a roster for this unit.

It is stored in the special collections Virginiana room and the website gives instructions on how to request a look-up from this item, via snail mail, in case your other resources don't find anything...

 A brief history of Battery "D", 111th Field Artillery : with complete roster /
by Sayre, C. R.
[Hampton, VA?] Author as Pub., [19--?] 
Description:  28 p. ; 22 cm.
 
Add authors:  Roberts, F. H.
 
 
 Collection Call No. Status Barcode Location   
Virginiana 975.541 Sa99b Virginiana Storage -90373 Main Library


http://www.hamptonpubliclibrary.org/special/researchsrequests.html

That's a great find. Congrats on the banner

congrats on making the banner with that awesome piece of WW1 relic !

Wow, another amazing find comes from the duo team from Virginia!  Great find Josh, congrats on the banner!! 

Ironman

Thanks IronMan, I always enjoy seeing your posts from the other side of the country as well 

OH! How VERY, VERY cool is that! What an excellent find! Looks like you've got a start on finding info for him, now I hope you can locate his family. I think it was Don from Kansas? that found an old coin with similar info..maybe CW era...and he had quite a journey returning his coin.

       Congrats on such a wonderful find!!


                              Nana

1st of all, congrats Josh on this excellent find plus making the banner.  I'm quoting Nana's reply cause it was Don "Outback Duo" who found the other coin with a name inscribed on it.  You may have read his posts about it already... your find and his are both noteworthy.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index....c,235659.msg1768195.html#msg1768195 
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index....c,244564.msg1790814.html#msg1790814

Following the lead I mentioned earlier re: a published roster for this battery, I have not yet been able to consult a copy, but am in touch with family of the author... also found a questionaire by this man, C.R. Sayre, which includes very detailed notes on the outfit which you might enjoy looking over. Images attached.

Following the lead I mentioned earlier re: a published roster for this battery, I have not yet been able to consult a copy, but am in touch with family of the author... also found a questionaire by this man, C.R. Sayre, which includes very detailed notes on the outfit which you might enjoy looking over. Images attached.

Thanks Obscurist for your interest and the info.  I've consulted a friend who's got a grandson that works at the Norfolk Blues Artillery (111th) Post and has access to the roster.  Just haven't found the time to get down there and verify Mr. Curtis.  In addition, there's also a roster of the 111th for WWI in the Hampton, Virginia Library, right across the water from me.  The 111th is based here in Norfolk, Virginia where I live.

that's freakin awesome! great research too! congrats on a banner find!

Aha! Found a history of the division this outfit was part of, including roster, on googlebooks... unfortunately, still just initials, but it's nice to see the name and rank there in black and white just like it appears on the back of the coin you found.

http://tinyurl.com/27v5w67

 AWSOME find Sentinel    


 That sure looks good on the Banner.

Congrats my friend

I think it's about time to call out the genealogists. Unfortunately, I'm not paid up on my ancestry subscription, so can't pull down all the data associated with the likely individual (or at very least same family).

I nominate Robert Chichester Curtis of Hampton, VA. born 07 May 1875, died ? 1933. Only family tree hit for him at ancestry spells it 'Chicester' and likely to be transcribed as 'Chester' on occassion.

In any case, your R.C. is very likely in the family of Robert Keith Curtis, who was sheriff of Gloucester and Elizabeth City counties VA for many years around the turn of the last century.

In the 29th Div. history mentioned above, there is also a Sgt. T.S. Curtis with the same battery. I figured these men must be kin, and it turns out T.S. Curtis is Thomas Sinclair Curtis. The family name Sinclair as well as Chichester appear going back many years in the family tree of Robert Keith Curtis.

To read about R.K. Curtis and note references to his son R.C. Curtis, who is reported here to have served as sheriff after his father's death,
see (entry for Charles Cosby Curtis, a brother to R.C.): http://tinyurl.com/34jxyhe

Here is the gravesite for Sgt. T.S. Curtis, same outfit:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25261569

I suggest someone with their subscription paid up check out these men and their families to try to confirm the match... only one exact hit for each, Thomas Sinclair Curtis and Robert Chicester [sic] Curtis... I think we are quite close now.