Have a look at this awesome Washington Masonic Medal by Joseph Merriam

DCW · February 1, 2019 9:46AM

Here is an extremely rare piece in my Merriam collection that I thought I'd share with you all this morning. Struck in silver, circa 1867-1870.
The obverse is Joesph Merriam's famous George Washington die (which was used in everything from Civil War dog tags to Merriam's own storecard) muled with his partner in Merriam & Co, W.N. Weeden's beautiful Masonic Temple reverse. It is gorgeously toned with rainbows at the periphery and an almost gold appearance on the building, making it seem lit up at night.

The new Masonic Temple was completed in 1867 in Boston after a fire had destroyed the previous building. Weeden had a particular fondness for Masonic medals and made one to commemorate this building, which is very rare in it's own right.

I acquired these in a large purchase from Q. David Bowers a couple years back of his personal collection of Merriam material. As he had first pick over a number of years, as collections were liquidated, the quality and rarity of these is of the highest order. It has really enhanced my own set immeasurably and is making an impact on the book I'm writing on Merriam.
Thanks for looking!

Meltdown · February 1, 2019 9:52AM

Wow. Very cool.

ricko · February 1, 2019 10:17AM

Very interesting... Nice detail on the Temple.... Thanks for showing us... Cheers, RickO

mapleman · February 1, 2019 10:28AM

George Washington was a Freemason in and A Past Master of Alexandria Lodge VA.

Flatwoods · February 1, 2019 10:30AM

Beautiful piece.

DCW · February 3, 2019 3:32PM

Thread fell like a led zeppelin...
Bump in case anyone is interested and missed it.

coinbuf · February 3, 2019 3:49PM

Lol, fell off because there was no legend drama to keep it at the top. Those are some very cool medals, the temple detail struck on both is fantastic. I have a bicentennial masonic medal sitting on my desk that belonged to my father in law, not as beautifully detailed as these but interesting non the less.

Boosibri · February 3, 2019 5:49PM

You have a wonderful collection of Merriam pieces. I can't wait for the book!

Zoins · February 3, 2019 6:21PM

Thanks for bumping this @DCW. It's a great looking piece!

I like to do some historical research on pieces so I needed to find some time to do some digging. I was curious about the muling and found out William Nye Weeden was Merriam's partner in from David Schenkman who published in his catalog "Joseph H. Merriam Die Sinker". The following is from E-Sylum:

https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n44a07.html

WEEDEN, William Nye (1841-1891) engraver, Boston. Born New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1841. Onetime partner with Joseph Merriam (q.v.) in Merriam & Company following the Civil War. Merriam sold this firm (circa 1875) to Clarence J. Brigham (q.v.) who operated for a short time as Brigham & Co. and then moved it to Attleboro. Weeden specialized in Masonic medals but did little in latter years of this business or afterwards. Died New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1891.

CWT1863 · February 3, 2019 6:36PM

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the book.

jabba · February 3, 2019 6:54PM

Nice

Have a look at this awesome Washington Masonic Medal by Joseph Merriam

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