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A pleasant little surprise for these gray days

wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

I was taking a picture of my grandfather's signet ring for my daughter today. It was in the original C. D. Peacock box, from the venerable Chicago jeweler c 1920. When I went to take the ring out, it stuck, and the plush liner came with it. And therein was an unexpected prize -- lying in the bottom under some very old cotton wool was this Masonic token. It measures 3/8" x 1/2" and thin as a piece of 100 lb cover stock.
I have various pieces of my grandfather's jewelry and Masonic memorabilia, but had never given this ring more than a cursory glance before. I'll have to do some research to see if this little wafer has a particular meaning, but in the mean time, it sure is cool.

Comments

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not only is it way cool in and of itself and the fact that it was your grandfathers, but the way you discovered it makes it more amazing!

    Looks like a half dollar?

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,248 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Its tagged Half Dime, and I don't think that the date digits are big enough for a Half Dollar...I have been wrong before.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    A half dime was my guess and I don't know beans about coins. Assuming it was squared off at the rim when it was cut (given the remaining dentils), I used a circle template and it measured a tight 9/16" diameter, so pretty small.

  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like a half dime.
    Really cool and likely (assuredly?) unique.
    Thank you for sharing. B)

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice!

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,010 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A resourceful conversion for sure. Exciting find! Is 1858 a significant date in your family tree? Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • ThreeCentSilverFLThreeCentSilverFL Posts: 1,687 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool find!

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great story and a super find....Probably was a special memento for your Grandfather....Too bad the backstory is lost. Definitely a family heirloom now...Cheers, RickO

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,414 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice I like

  • thebeavthebeav Posts: 3,791 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Oneof the cooler 'love-tokens' I've ever seen !

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,231 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice one, WEV!

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,677 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Incredible find.

    Seems well worn so carried as a pocket piece?

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,481 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Probably was a pocket piece.

    Could've been carried by the owner in case something happened to him, to show he was a FreeMason.

    Just one guess.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,004 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like a half dime to me. Should be 15.5 mm or 5/8" in diameter, or in this case, corner to corner. Very cool piece!

  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    @BuffaloIronTail said:
    Probably was a pocket piece.

    Could've been carried by the owner in case something happened to him, to show he was a FreeMason.

    Just one guess.

    Pete

    If it was, he would have needed to be very careful where he put it -- it is very tiny. The pic shows it on the tip of my index finger. That said, it may have been in a now gone locket or watch fob.

  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    @messydesk said:
    Looks like a half dime to me. Should be 15.5 mm or 5/8" in diameter, or in this case, corner to corner. Very cool piece!

    Just a touch less from corner wear

  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 7,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very cool.

    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Can we assume "G" was one of his initials? (My eyes see a "G" anyway...)

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    @TommyType said:
    Can we assume "G" was one of his initials? (My eyes see a "G" anyway...)

    No. The Letter G stands for "Geometry", which is the mathematical science upon which Architecture and Masonry were founded. It is a primary symbol in Masonic iconography.

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Really neat !!! :)

    Timbuk3
  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,231 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Any cool new spoons lately, WEV? I'm on SMPUB, too :smile:

  • Becky7474Becky7474 Posts: 103 ✭✭✭

    Very cool. B)

  • markelman1125markelman1125 Posts: 1,851 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Some free mason symbols 👍

  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    @asheland said:
    Any cool new spoons lately, WEV? I'm on SMPUB, too :smile:

    I have been a very good boy lately (damn it)

  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,231 ✭✭✭✭✭

    WEV, any idea who this may be?
    (1740’s Rat rail Hanoverian tablespoon)
    I’ve been trying to figure this maker out for a few years now.

    And this is the composition:

  • wevwev Posts: 151 ✭✭✭

    @asheland said:
    WEV, any idea who this may be?
    (1740’s Rat rail Hanoverian tablespoon)
    I’ve been trying to figure this maker out for a few years now.

    I have seen the journeyman's counter mark twice before, once alone and once with a mark too worn to decipher. Both were on similar vintage place/serving spoons without provenance. I have never seen an attribution for the WS mark, I'm afraid.

  • OnastoneOnastone Posts: 3,977 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's a treasure map Indiana! It will lead you to the lost gold of the Incas!! Cool find~

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,231 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @wev said:

    @asheland said:
    WEV, any idea who this may be?
    (1740’s Rat rail Hanoverian tablespoon)
    I’ve been trying to figure this maker out for a few years now.

    I have seen the journeyman's counter mark twice before, once alone and once with a mark too worn to decipher. Both were on similar vintage place/serving spoons without provenance. I have never seen an attribution for the WS mark, I'm afraid.

    Thanks! :)

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