This ring inscribed "Gold gab ich für Eisen", 1914, ("I gave gold for iron"), was one of the first pieces brought by contributors to the first public participation day in Frankfurt. The contributor was Brigitte Bieche with the help of Benjamin Hirschfeld.
Whilst this particular ring is a fascinating piece of social history and unique to one woman, and one family, it also represents part of an officially sponsored programme of fund raising for the German war effort. Similar drives were also made in various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Patriotic citizens handed in valuable jewelery, and instead took to wearing base metals. Interestingly this revived an idea used in the Wars of Liberation, when, as long ago as 1813, the Prussian Royal family had appealed to their womenfolk to make similar donations. Iron jewelery, hitherto used mainly as a symbol of mourning, then acquired a new status.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/993">embedding web page</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/attachments/5339/993.5339.large.JPG?1305807227">image page</a> Photo: Benjamin Hirschfeld