Hello. Just back into MD'ing after a long layoff following a half-hearted attempt several years ago. Did a lot of lurking/reading on here to gather info before diving back into it. Thanks to most of you on here for info I gained reading many posts.
Earlier this week I was hunting a late 1800's home site. I picked up the medallion pictured below in the back yard. The house is located about 25 yards from a rail line.
The writing says "A Century of Service" 1834-1934. At the bottom it reads "Old North Church" The building looks like a church to me.
The pic shows it next to a quarter. It is about the size of a lid on a quart jar. It appears to be copper or brass. The back is smooth.
1 Christ Church in the City of Boston, better known as Old North Church.
2 Old North Church in Historic Nacogdoches
3 Old North Church of Canfield, OH
4 Old North Churh of Marblehead (turns 375 years old) see link
ABOUT 200 years ago, some churches in the northeastern United States commissioned special tokens to be used only in the churches. Counterfeit copper coins were making the rounds and often turned up in collection plates. To solve the problem, the churches bought their own tokens, sold them to parishioners, then accepted them in offering plates. Not only did the tokens alleviate the counterfeiting, but they also allowed worshipers to prepay their earthly dues.
Churches and synagogues are still buying special coins, but now they're selling them in gift shops. One sculptor, Barry Silverman, has accepted several commissions, and his work is available in the gift shops of both the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York and at Christ Church in the City of Boston, better known as Old North Church.
The medallions are made of pewter and are cast rather than struck between dies. The casting results in a cheaper coin. Mintages are normally quite low; even in the most popular model, the St. John the Divine medal, only 3,000 were cast.
Thanks for the info. I had seen some of the links but a couple are new to me and very interesting. I am going to contact the Old North Church in Texas and see if they have any information.
Thanks for the info. I had seen some of the links but a couple are new to me and very interesting. I am going to contact the Old North Church in Texas and see if they have any information.
Are you in Texas? Anywhere near Nacogdoches?
Roland
All electrical devices are powered by smoke......when the smoke escapes, they no longer work.
Old North Church Nacogdoches, Texas.
I really wish people would tell us where they found items they post here.
DCMatt
I hear ya. The more information the better, especially with certain items such as this. It looks like the same church with a new centralized front door and steeple in place of the two seperate (men and women) doors (popular in the 1800's and early part of the 20th century) on the medallion. The history is close but not exact as to 1834- The Old North Church in Historic Nacogdoches
The Old North Church, originally called Union Church because various religious denominations made up the congregation, was organized on May 6, 1838 and is the oldest active missionary Baptist church in Texas. The founder of Old North Church, Mrs. Massey Sparks Millard, who came to Texas in 1832 and settled near the site of a spring where the church is now located, arranged for the Reverend Isaac Reed to preach the first Baptist sermon to a group of settlers beneath the shade of this ancient post-oak tree. Meeting in the first structure on the site, a one-room log house called the Liberty School House, (so named after the Texan victory at the Battle of San Jacinto), the Reverend Isaac Reed, the Elder R. G. Green, and a group of worshipers organized what is now the Old North Church. The original building, a log structure, was built in 1838 and used until 1852 when the present church was erected on the original foundation stones. In 1933 the church was reoriented to face the historic oak tree. The Old North Church Cemetery, which is part of the original ten acres deeded by Dr. John M. Sparks to the Union Church in 1892, is a chronicle of the early days of Nacogdoches County. Veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, and some forty-seven Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried here. "According to legend, the first burial in this cemetery was that of a young girl whose family, traveling through the area in a wagon train when she died, buried her here before continuing their westward journey."
An interesting note regarding the old North Church Oak Tree which is probaly more famous than the church- In 1933, the church building was reoriented to face the historic oak.
Old North Church Nacogdoches, Texas.
I really wish people would tell us where they found items they post here.
DCMatt
I hear ya. The more information the better, especially with certain items such as this. It looks like the same church with a new centralized front door and steeple in place of the two seperate (men and women) doors (popular in the 1800's and early part of the 20th century) on the medallion. The history is close but not exact as to 1834- The Old North Church in Historic Nacogdoches
The Old North Church, originally called Union Church because various religious denominations made up the congregation, was organized on May 6, 1838 and is the oldest active missionary Baptist church in Texas. The founder of Old North Church, Mrs. Massey Sparks Millard, who came to Texas in 1832 and settled near the site of a spring where the church is now located, arranged for the Reverend Isaac Reed to preach the first Baptist sermon to a group of settlers beneath the shade of this ancient post-oak tree. Meeting in the first structure on the site, a one-room log house called the Liberty School House, (so named after the Texan victory at the Battle of San Jacinto), the Reverend Isaac Reed, the Elder R. G. Green, and a group of worshipers organized what is now the Old North Church. The original building, a log structure, was built in 1838 and used until 1852 when the present church was erected on the original foundation stones. In 1933 the church was reoriented to face the historic oak tree. The Old North Church Cemetery, which is part of the original ten acres deeded by Dr. John M. Sparks to the Union Church in 1892, is a chronicle of the early days of Nacogdoches County. Veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, and some forty-seven Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried here. "According to legend, the first burial in this cemetery was that of a young girl whose family, traveling through the area in a wagon train when she died, buried her here before continuing their westward journey."
An interesting note regarding the old North Church Oak Tree which is probaly more famous than the church- In 1933, the church building was reoriented to face the historic oak.
Sorry for not stating where it was found. I found it in New Augusta, MS. About 25 miles ESE of Hattiesburg. It was about 25 yards from a railroad track, 5 inches deep. It gave a constant "83" signal on my Fisher F4.
Contacted the Historic site Manager for the City of Nacogdoches, Texas. Sent him a pic of the medallion. He has forwarded the pic to a few people who are familar with the Old North Church there. I will post his findings when I hear from him.
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Originally Posted by Mr Haney
I hear ya. The more information the better, especially with certain items such as this. It looks like the same church with a new centralized front door and steeple in place of the two seperate (men and women) doors (popular in the 1800's and early part of the 20th century) on the medallion. The history is close but not exact as to 1834-
