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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ZoidMeister, post: 7506669, member: 114169&quot;]I will have to get that for you.&nbsp; I am guessing it is bronze of some type.&nbsp; It was very dirty when I got it and I gave it an acetone bath before the photo shoot.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is about the size of a quarter, give or take.&nbsp; It&#039;s at my office, so specifics will have to wait until Monday.</p><p><br /></p><p>What most folks don&#039;t know, is that many EARLY Masonic pennies contain references and symbolism from ancient Judaism.&nbsp; Many early colonial and Masonic pennies bear these initials - <b>HTWSSTKS</b>.&nbsp; This stands for <b>&quot;Hiram, Tyrian Widow&#039;s Son, Sendeth to King Soloman.&quot;</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I am ignorant of the story behind the story on that and need to do much more research, but I do know that I discovered that MANY of the very early American Masonic pennies bear ancient Judaism symbolism, such as this one that shows the Arc of the Covenant.&nbsp; Both of these pieces also bear the <b>HTWSSTKS</b> as well.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1296965[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1296966[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Another enigma I must solve is the reference to &quot;One Penny&quot; on most of these Masonic tokens.&nbsp; I know there is the phrase, &quot;To Every Man, A Penny&quot; that is associated with Masonic membership, but again, I am ignorant (for now) of the origins of this.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Many of the early framers of our Constitution and country were Masons - again, I need to do more research to edjamacate myself, but the most notable Americans who were Masons were George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.</p><p><br /></p><p>The modern day Shriner&#039;s, those goof-balls who run around in clown outfits driving clown cars and raising money for children&#039;s hospitals?&nbsp; They&#039;re all Masons.</p><p><br /></p><p>You see a lot of Masonic symbolism still in our currency today.</p><p><br /></p><p>The original piece I posted in very notable in it&#039;s striking.&nbsp; The edges / rims are very pronounced, almost wire like.&nbsp; It almost looks machined rather than struck.&nbsp; The second piece above looks more modern in its strike.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have no idea the age or origin of the first Masonic penny I posted.&nbsp; It might be early colonial or even British in origin.&nbsp; No idea about it&#039;s age either.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is another really nice example I have been able to acquire.&nbsp; There isn&#039;t any ancient biblical symbolism in this one, but a LOT of these vintage Masonic tokens are exceedingly well made.&nbsp; This is probably in tribute to their early builders / stonemason roots.</p><p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1296976[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1296977[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The piece above almost looks like it were molded of terracotta, but is actually a copper struck piece by Childs die sinkers of Chicago.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many of these early Masonic pennies, when they can be found, can be purchased at quite reasonable cost, given their age, quality and relative rarity.&nbsp; Now that I&#039;ve started discussing them, it will probably drive their prices up . . . . LOL.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, I thought it was a cool piece and thought I would share.</p><p><br /></p><p>Z[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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