A family legacy in gold: Unraveling the story behind my grandfather's ring....

in #hive-14844110 months ago

Screenshot_20240208_212219_Chrome.jpg

Some treasures are measured not in carats, but in memories woven through generations. Take, for instance, my grandfather's gold ring. It's not just a piece of jewelry; it's a piece of our family history, a tangible link to our past that spans decades.

Edward Melvyn Thomas, was more than just a name etched on that ring; he was the patriarch of our family. Even though he departed this world some 39 years ago, his presence lingers in the stories we share and the cherished mementos he left behind. When my (paternal) grandmother passed away 23 years ago, the ring found a new custodian in my father, the eldest of their three children. Now, as fate would have it, the ring has found its way to me, entrusted by my father, who knows of my passion for precious metals and my commitment to preserving our family's legacy.

But is it an heirloom? That's the question that lingers in my mind. Does it need to pass through more hands, spanning more generations, before it earns that title? Or is its significance rooted not in the number of owners, but in the stories it carries and the love it symbolizes?

Screenshot_20240208_212114_Chrome.jpg
Standing tall on the far right-hand side

My grandfather was a man of stature, both figuratively and literally. Standing tall at the helm of his life's endeavors, he carved a path through the rugged terrain of South Wales, laboring in the depths of iron ore mines. His legacy, intertwined with the rich history of Llanharry's mining community, speaks volumes of resilience and determination.

The iron ore mines of Llanharry, dating back to the early 3rd century, bear witness to the toil of generations. And amidst the echoes of pickaxes and the rumble of carts, my grandfather toiled, rising through the ranks to become the owner and manager of an iron ore mine in our ancestral village.

Screenshot_20240208_212132_Chrome.jpg
Photo of the mine Circa-1960

The closure of the mine in 1971 marked the end of an era, but not the end of my grandfather's legacy. As the pithead was shuttered and the shafts capped, he was bestowed with a commemorative plaque, a token of gratitude for his years of service and dedication. The rare eath mineral found in these mines were exported globally and help shape the nation by being used to forge some of the buildings, bridges and structures still standing to this day.

The sister if this quartz/calcite gemstone can still be found on display in the national museum of Wales. This one however, still remains at my parents house.

Screenshot_20240208_212149_Chrome.jpg

Now, let's talk about the ring itself—a sturdy, substantial piece of craftsmanship. Weighing nearly 15.2 grams, it bears the hallmark of Birmingham, a testament to its British roots. Its 9-karat gold composition whispers of a bygone era, its value transcending mere monetary worth. As for its market value? It's a mere £290/300, give or take. But to me, its worth is immeasurable. No sum of money could tempt me to part with it, for its true value lies in the intangible—the memories, the stories, the legacy it represents.

Screenshot_20240208_212301_Chrome.jpg

And as I slip the ring onto my finger, I can't help but marvel at its sheer size of it. Now my hands arent small by any stretch if the imagination, but the diameter of this ring dwarfs my own fingers. Its not a piece i can ever see me wearing vut it is a tangible reminder of my grandfather's larger-than-life presence. It's not just a ring; it's a connection to my roots, a reminder of who I am and where I come from. So, is it an heirloom? Perhaps. But more than that, it's a beacon of family ties, a symbol of enduring love, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. And for that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Screenshot_20231026_064937_Chrome.jpg

If you dont own any precious metals, then why not tell us? As a community we encourage ALL engagements and encourage everyone to take the plunge and own at lease a sinlge ounce of silver or a fraction of gold. If your struggleing to find a safe and secure place to buy, reach out to the community as there is always someone willing to offer their time and advice to help you out.

Screenshot_20220214-214651_Chrome.jpg

40+yr old, trying to shift a few pounds and sharing his efforsts on the blockchain. Come find me on STRAVA or actifit, and we can keep each other motivated .

Screenshot_20211227-214606_Chrome.jpg

Proud member of #teamuk. Teamuk is a tag for all UK residents, ex-pats or anyone currently staying here to use and get a daily upvote from the community. While the community actively encourages users of the platform to post and use the tag, remember that it is for UK members only.

Come join the community over on the discord channel- HERE

Want to find out more about gold and silver? Get the latest news, guides and information by following the best community on the blockchain - silvergoldstackers. We're a group of like minded precious metal stackers that love to chat, share ideas and spread the word about the benefits of "stacking". Please feel free to leave a comment below or join us in the community page, or on discord.

Screenshot_20211019-213209_Chrome.jpg

Sort:  

1


This post has been selected for upvote from our token accounts by @bulliontools! Based on your tags you received upvotes from the following account(s):

- @dhedge.bonus
- @dhedge.leo
- @dhedge.pob
- @dhedge.neoxag
- @dhedge.waiv

@bulliontools has 7 vote calls left today.

Hold 10 or more DHEDGE to unlock daily dividends. Hold 100 or more DHEDGE to unlock thread votes. Calling in our curation accounts currently has a minimum holding requirement of 100 DHEDGE. The more DHEDGE you hold, the higher upvote you can call in. Buy DHEDGE on Tribaldex or earn some daily by joining one of our many delegation pools at app.dhedge.cc.

You received an upvote of 49% from Precious the Silver Mermaid!

Thank you for contributing more great content to the #SilverGoldStackers tag.
You have created a Precious Gem!

Nice post...

I appreciate it. Thank you

Most definitely a family heirloom Welshie!👍😊
Keep it safe, pass it down to your kids, something to be treasured for generations!🥰

What a nice story and post!
You must be so proud of your grandfather, @welshstacker.
!LUV

welshstacker, silversaver888 sent you LUV. 🙂 (4/10) tools | trade | connect | daily

Made with LUV by crrdlx.

A ring to forever to be a part of the Perma-stack family heirloom.

That's a great ring and story! Even if it's too big for your finger, you could always wear it on a chain so you can carry it with you.

!hiqvote
!DHEDGE
!BBH

@welshstacker! Your Content Is Awesome so I just sent 1 $BBH (Bitcoin Backed Hive) to your account on behalf of @bulliontools. (1/20)

@bulliontools, the HiQ Smart Bot has recognized your request (2/2) and will start the voting trail.

In addition, @welshstacker gets !COFFEE from @hiq.redaktion.

For further questions, check out https://hiq-hive.com or join our Discord. And don't forget to vote HiQs fucking Witness! 😻

Beautiful ring looking forward to passing my stuff down to the next generations !BBH

@welshstacker! Your Content Is Awesome so I just sent 1 $BBH (Bitcoin Backed Hive) to your account on behalf of @bitcoinman. (14/50)

Hi @welshstacker,
Thank you for participating in the #teamuk curated tag. We have upvoted your quality content.
For more information visit our discord https://discord.gg/8CVx2Am

Yay! 🤗
Your content has been boosted with Ecency Points, by @welshstacker.
Use Ecency daily to boost your growth on platform!

Very awesome! The quartz is priceless! The problem is, and I guess it's not really a problem, its just life, the further away from the man, the less significance there is. I think that's human nature, as sad as that is. For example

I have my grandfather's wedding band, and my great-great grandfathers Rolex pocket watch that was his retirement gift from Scotland Yard. I think that's the only gold I wouldn't sell. But the ring, means more than the Rolex. It's worth virtually nothing, maybe 5 grams of 9Ct... compared to the 18ct watch that is worth probably quite a lot, but I never knew the man that owned it. And I guarantee my nefews and neices will sell it all when I kick the bucket.