My great grandparents immigrated to New York City in 1917 from Naples, Italy.   They arrived by boat at Ellis Island in search of a better life.  My great grandparents had traveled with their five young children.  At the time, my great grandmother was pregnant with my grandfather.   He was the first of five additional children born in America.  The family settled down in a small tenement apartment on Manhattan’s Lower  East Side.One of the few personal items brought to America by my great grandfather was a small sterling silver mesh coin purse.  It is about 3 inches long by 2 inches wide and has a snap closure.   There are four decorative silver beads dangling from the bottom.  The silver has tarnished with time.  The coin purse was a treasured item of my great grandfather.  He used it to store lira (Italian currency).  My great grandfather kept it hidden inside an old metal band-aid box for safe keeping.I never met my great grandfather.  He  passed away decades before I was born.  However, if I could speak to him I would love to know the significance of the coin purse, as it obviously held much sentimental value.  What is its origin?  Was it his mother’s?  His grandmother’s perhaps?  Although I will never know the answer, I am incredibly grateful to have this small memento of my great grandfather.  

– RE

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more