Genuine WWI Silver Plated Military Rosary – Gun Metal Patina – Fancy Crucifix

This offering is for a silver plated brass, pull chain rosary that was issued by the U.S. government during World War I. Depending on how they were stored these rosaries can be in many different conditions. On this particular rosary, the original silver finish is fully intact with a dark, matte patina. Even with slight buffing, the beads are not bright and shiny like on other rosaries, making this an excellent choice for those who prefer less "bling." Be assured that the beads are in excellent condition with no dings or dents, and the chain is sound.

The small oval center medal features Mary as the Sorrowful Mother and on the verso is the passion of Jesus Christ carrying the cross. The beautiful crucifix features a scrolled design in the tips of the cross and a molded corpus with nice devotional smoothing. Both components are nice dark patina, with a little bit of brass showing through on the corpus.

There is a great deal of lore on the Internet about WWI and WWII military and soldier's rosaries. Some information is accurate; other is more romantic than real and occasionally misleading, intentional or otherwise. As you can read in my woefully neglected blog (click Favorite Links from the Shop Home page to get there), I have summarized what I believe is accurate historical information. I encourage you to read about the genuine, government-issue military rosaries, like this one, as opposed to one that supposedly belonged to a soldier or chaplain. Caveat emptor.

Whether you choose to acquire this devotional as a historic religious collectible or for active prayer, it will delight and inspire you with its beauty and the many stories it could tell. Better yet, perhaps it could continue its service with a contemporary soldier, bringing comfort and hope in the midst of battle.

Weight – 21 grams // Beads – 4-1/2 mm round // Length – 16-1/2 inches total; 6-3/4 inch drop // Crucifix – 1-3/4 x 1 inches // Medal – ½ x 3/8 inches // Not suitable for wearing

Item ID: ROS3107