46.22

Coin, Fraternal

1874 Approximate

Royal Arch Masonry Mark Penny. Material: metal. Size: 1 1/4" diameter. Description: copper disk token given to a Masonic candidate upon reaching the "Mark Master" degree; one side stamped "One Penny" and the letters “HTWSSTKS” signifying loyalty to the Masons and representing the mark of the Ancient Grand Master, standing for “Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's Son, Sent To King Solomon”, and with the chisel and mallet symbolizing “tools of action”; stamped on the reverse side perimeter, "Waseca Chapter No. 26 R. A. M. Waseca, Minn. Chartered June 25th 1874."

The coin is a Mark penny from the Royal Arch Masons (R.A.M.). The penny is given to a the fraternal organization of the Masons candidate upon the receiving the Mark Master degree, which is the first degree of Royal Arch Masonry, according to the Masonic Lodge of Education website. Short History of Masonic Pennies E-bay Description: Equitable pay was a major theme among Royal Arch Masons. When the Mason became a Royal Arch Mason, they earned a penny, the symbol of a day's wages. This evolved through the 1800s. In the early days a US or foreign coin was shaved and made into the Penny. We have found one on a 5 Franc coin that the Mason was a Union Colonel and died in 1861. Early datable ones are scarce. Many were engraved on US large cents. The date of the coin has no bearing on when the penny was made, most were 1880 - 1910. Engraved dates are often when the Mason became a Royal Arch Mason. The penny may have been engraved 20 or more years after the date. There were Stock Pennies beginning in the 1870s to present. Stock Pennies allowed a local jeweler to engrave the Mason's Penny. They were used by Chapters that could not afford the cost of a die or until they could get a die made. George H. Lovett was probably one of the first engraver of Masonic Chapter Pennies. He died in 1894. He made a dozen different pennies, all in Copper and Silver. All Lovetts, except the copper Washington Chapter No 2 from Houston are RARE.