Masonic Money: The Little-Known 1864 Boston Masonic Temple Half Dollar

Here's another fun project I worked on a couple of years ago. This article appeared in the ILNA journal last summer.

Masonic Money:
The Little-Known 1864 Boston Masonic Temple Half Dollar

One of the greatest joys of being a brick-and-mortar coin dealer is the opportunity to interact with the general public daily—not just coin collectors or numismatists, but everyday people. This variety of clientele brings a wide range of objects into our shop. Over the 40+ years we've been in our downtown Chicago storefront, we've seen everything from amazing rarities hidden away by long-departed collectors to the $2 bill craze spurred by clickbait internet articles. Occasionally, something comes through the door that makes even the most seasoned professional numismatist say "WOW." This, dear reader, is one of those stories.

Paper Towels and French Fries

On a chilly January day in 2024, I was called from my office to the front counter—someone was asking for me by name. Slightly puzzled and worried I had forgotten an appointment, I rushed to the counter, where I was met by a gentleman holding a paper towel of all things. After a brief introduction, he explained that he had specifically sought me out because he believed I could identify a valuable treasure wrapped up in the paper towel. He had done some of his own research and reached out to a few people about where to go, and my name had come up due to my specialization in exonumia and Liberty Seated coinage. Naturally, I was excited to see what this treasure could be.
As he recounted the story of how the coin had come into his possession, I grew even more eager to see it. Over twenty years ago, he had been a teenager working at a local fast-food restaurant when a customer paid with a coin he had never seen before. Realizing it could be something special, he swapped out his own change for the coin. When he got home, he placed it in a paper towel and promptly forgot about it on a closet shelf. It wasn't until he was moving that he rediscovered the coin and decided to do some research.
At this point, I was practically shaking with excitement as I began to unwrap the paper towel. Finally, after some wrestling with tape, I uncovered the prize: an 1864 Liberty Seated Half Dollar, beautifully engraved on both the obverse and reverse. The obverse read: W.M. Bogle Boston Encampment, and the reverse: Taken from the ruins of Masonic Temple, April 16, 1864. I was immediately floored. I had read about these coins in passing, but I had never seen one in person! After I contained my excitement, the real work of researching began.

The Boston Masonic Temple Fire

"Last night, about 12 o'clock, fire was discovered in a closet under the second flight of stairs in the Masonic Fraternity's Building on the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets. The building was a mammoth brick structure, composed of six stories, three of which were occupied as the Winthrop House, and the upper three as Freemason Halls. Shortly after the first alarm was given, the Fire Department arrived, but the great height of the building hindered their efforts, and the fire quickly gained ground. The upper part of the building became a massive inferno, and a second alarm was sounded before 1 o'clock. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the destruction. The firemen worked tirelessly, but despite their efforts, the blaze spread uncontrollably."
This firsthand account, from the April 10th, 1864 edition of the New York Times, details the devastating fire that nearly caused a firestorm in Boston during the American Civil War. What it doesn't cover, however, is the aftermath and the rebuilding efforts for the grand Boston Masonic Temple.

From the Ashes

While many details are lost to history, we do know a few key facts. Somehow, a well-connected Mason, likely with connections both inside and outside the federal government, managed to convince the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia to strike 1864 half dollars using the ornamental and ceremonial silver salvaged from the fire. This is especially noteworthy because in 1861, the federal government suspended specie payments (hard money in the form of gold and silver) and shifted to issuing paper currency. Coin production had significantly slowed during the Civil War, and hard money was rarely seen, especially in the East.
Another intriguing aspect of these coins is the exceptional engraving work. Rualu, in his seminal work on tokens and medals, speculates that the engraving might have been done at the Mint. However, I believe it was more likely done by one of the many skilled jewelers in Philadelphia or Boston at the time, and possibly by multiple individuals, as there are slight stylistic differences among the surviving pieces. These coins were sold to members of the lodge at an undisclosed price to help fund the rebuilding of the Boston Masonic Temple. Unfortunately, little is known about how much money was raised or how many coins were sold. Based on the number of coins still known to exist (currently eight), it seems they were not saved in great quantities.
William Bogle
The coin I held was engraved with the name William Bogle, a fascinating character in his own right. Bogle emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1840, settling in Boston and later North Malden. He established a hairdressing and wig-making business on Washington Street in downtown Boston, where he made his fortune selling hair care products.
Bogle joined the Freemasons at the Lodge of St. Andrew in Boston in 1849 and was a charter member of the Wyoming Lodge in Melrose, Massachusetts, established in 1856. He was also involved in several other Boston fraternal organizations, including the Scots Charitable Society and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. Some historical sources credit him with suggesting the name "Melrose" for the town (formerly North Malden). Bogle passed away in 1891, and his obituary in the Boston Post described him as the "godfather of Melrose" and noted his active involvement in local affairs, though he declined any public office.

Conclusions
I'm happy to report, dear reader, that this story has a happy ending for all involved. We decided to have the coin graded by PCGS, and I represented our client at auction. The coin is now housed in a PCGS XF Details (cleaned) holder. While I disagree with the cleaning designation—since it's clear this coin was used as a pocket piece—I'm thrilled that it is now properly attributed and protected.
As for our client, who, at the time of the auction, had just proposed to his long-time partner, they were rewarded for his foresight with a substantial sum, which will help fund their upcoming honeymoon. As for me? I had the privilege of holding a piece of history in my hands and contributed to a numismatic legacy that was 141 years in the making.