Masonic Penny Xangti Chapter No. 666 Demon Cowans Procul

WillieBoyd2

I have this imitation Masonic "Penny" parody token.

I am trying to find out who made them and when.



Obverse:
Cartoon demon with big ears and fangs
XANGTI CHAPTER No. 666
COWANS, U.S.A.

Reverse:
PROCUL O PROCUL ESTE PROFANI
INSTITUTED APR 27TH 1741
ONE PENNY
Coffin with legend letters possibly "TUAPNOII"

Metal: Aluminum
Size: 34mm
Weight: 4.09gm

Masonic Pennies are used by some Freemasonry lodges, primarily Royal Arch Masons (RAM).

A real Masonic Penny sometimes looks like this:



Masonic "Penny" San Francisco Chapter RAM

The imitation is 34mm and aluminum, most real Masonic pennies are 32mm and bronze.

The Latin slogan "Procul O Procul Este Profani" is
"Keep away, keep far away, you profane ones!" or more simply "Members only".
It is used in the ancient Roman poet Virgil's Aenead.

In Freemasonry, the word "profane" means "uninitiated" or not a Freemason, and a
"Cowan" is an intruder, someone who attends lodge meetings but is not a member.

"Xangti" might be a Western name for a Chinese god.
The number "666" is the Biblical "Mark of the Beast" of Revelations.
I can not find out any significance for the date "April 27, 1741".

These items are professionally made, not some kids fooling around in a high school metal shop.
They would have been made some time ago as few people now would recognize a Masonic Penny.
Many Masonic lodges have closed due to lack of new members.

Any information to the manufacturer or date would be most helpful.

magikbilly

RE the date:

"The Scald-Miserables processions organized by Paul Whitehead and Esquire Carey (surgeon to the Prince of Wales and masonic Grand Steward in 1740) were held on March 19, April 27 and May 2, 1741. There is a print by Bertoist entitled Grand Procession of the Scald Miserable Masons. Horace Walpole reports that the Prince promptly dismissed Carey from his post. Cited by E. Beresford Chancellor, The lives of the Rakes: Volume IV, The Hell Fire Club. London : Philip Allan & Co. Quality Court, 1925. 256p 15x22cm p. 149."

I have no idea if this is of use but it iss the date with a Masonic connection I think.

From Riding the Goat

Eric

CaptHenway

It looks like something Thomas Elder might have done, but I never saw any reference to it when I researched my article on him.

ricko

Interesting piece.....I wonder if it was made in other metals...Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

Interesting comment on the date from your post in the ebay forum:

linky

magikbilly

<< <i>Interesting comment on the date from your post in the ebay forum:

linky >>




I guess this is the procession in the bit I found in my post above?

Eric

From CaptHenway's link: " ....April 27, 1741 a number of shoe-cleaners, chimney-sweepers, etc. on foot and in carts with rediculous pageants carried before them, went in procession to Temple Bar by way of jest on the Freemasons...."

What I found at Ride The Goat: "The Scald-Miserables processions organized by Paul Whitehead and Esquire Carey (surgeon to the Prince of Wales and masonic Grand Steward in 1740) were held on March 19, April 27 and May 2, 1741. There is a print by Bertoist entitled Grand Procession of the Scald Miserable Masons. Horace Walpole reports that the Prince promptly dismissed Carey from his post. Cited by E. Beresford Chancellor, The lives of the Rakes: Volume IV, The Hell Fire Club. London : Philip Allan & Co. Quality Court, 1925. 256p 15x22cm p. 149."

CaptHenway

Happened to be down at the ANA today, so looked at the reprint of a series of articles on Masonic tokens originally published in 1903 and/or 1904. The piece is listed towards the end under satirical pieces. Quite a bit of explanation of the devices and legends. No indication as to who made it, or when.

WillieBoyd2

This item was listed in a 1904 Masonic Tokens book?
Or was it an addition to the 1904 book.
I ask because the design appears to be more recent, especially the obverse figure.

It looks like the posters here have found an explanation for the April 27, 1741 date.

Thank you all.

CaptHenway

<< <i>This item was listed in a 1904 Masonic Tokens book?
Or was it an addition to the 1904 book.
I ask because the design appears to be more recent, especially the obverse figure.

It looks like the posters here have found an explanation for the April 27, 1741 date.

Thank you all.

>>



A series of articles appeared in the Numismatist in 1903 and/or 1904. Not sure. This was in one of the articles. They were later copied and published as a booklet.

From the article: "(The demon is) The Chinese mythological god Zangti (who) was endowed with wonderful powers of hearing."

It also says that the piecce was struck in Aluminum, Brass, German Silver and Copper. The fact that the author knew this suggests that it was of recent manufacture and that he was aware of its origins, though it is also possible that it was older and those were simply the pieces that he, as a serious collector, had acquired.

Just as speculation on my part, the die workmanship is suggestive of that used by C.H. Hanson of Chicago for Thomas Elder tokens in the pre-WWI era, and he often had his struck in multiple metals including (but not limited to) AL, Brass, GS and CU. I still do not think it was issued by Elder, but this might help you track down the issuer.

TD

magikbilly

<< <i>It looks like the posters here have found an explanation for the April 27, 1741 date.

Thank you all.

>>




Be sure to remember me and CaptHenway at your site

I looked around - nice site. If I may, the NYWF token you have listed as 1939 is actually from 1940 as far as I know - the entrance doors under the Eugene Savage mural on the Communications Building appear to have been widened as they were for the 1940 season. Nearly everything (licensed) from 1939 NYWF ESC 1939 was dated 1939. One could argue the token would reflect the name change to Maritime Transport and Communications Building in 1940, but that is a bit much to put on a token.

I don't the 1964 medallion is the Communications Building as there was no Communications in 1964 IIRC and that is not the Bell Telephone pavilion. That might be GM or the thing by the Monorail. I have been dealing in and writing about the 1939 NYWF for 25 years, but I know next to nothing about 1964. It was so very tiny in comparison and looked like a trade show.

Best wishes,
Eric

Edit to add: The closest thing to a "Communications Building" in 1964 was the Press Building. Sometimes called the Communication and Press Building - it was not a public exhibit but a place for newsmen and media releases.