Any ideas?!?!

[boogeyman]

Found this the other night. Never seen one before. Anyone know where they came from or who made them. I assume it had to have been made after 74. Thanks for any help!

 

[aa battery]

 

[Monty]

It's a holed penny with the sign of the Free Masons Stamped on it. Monty

 

[aa battery]

It's a holed penny with the sign of the Free Masons Stamped on it. Monty

yes but why

 

[Drache]

It's a holed penny with the sign of the Free Masons Stamped on it. Monty

yes but why

My guess is something to do with the date of 1974. They chose a penny and stamped the Free Mason symbol onto it in such a way to not obscure the date, in god we trust, or lincoln's face.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I assume it had to have been made after 74.

 

[Monty]

Looks like it was probably made to put on a keychain. Doubt if it would be worn around one's neck. Most likely just a novelty piece perhaps to commemorate someone's initiation into Free Masonry? Monty

 

[Blacksheep]

If I remember correctly, new members sometimes got these as a memento of the year they joined but I could be wrong.

 

[Blacksheep]

Looks like it was probably made to put on a keychain. Doubt if it would be worn around one's neck. Most likely just a novelty piece perhaps to commemorate someone's initiation into Free Masonry? Monty

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

You googlers are slippin'. http://askaboutcoins.com/masonic-pennies-a19.html http://askaboutcoins.com/masonic-pennies-a19.html

The "Masonic Pennies" that you are asking about are given to entry level members of the Masons. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization, existing in various forms worldwide. The membership has shared moral and metaphysical ideals and in most of its branches requires a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.

The tools used to manufacture these pennies include a hammer and a punch that is created to have the Masonic logo on it. The logo is comprised of the Masonic Square and Compasses and can be found with or without the letter G.

The photo below shows what the punch looks like, it is on the right. There is a photo of the logo as it is seen on the punch and a picture of a 1955 Lincoln Cent that has been struck by the punch. It is probably important to mention that the punches seem to be for sale to anyone so these pennies can be created by any person who owns one of these punches. I have seen the current type of "Masonic Penny" for sale for as little as twenty cents each

http://www.sciotolodge.com/store/store2.htm

 

[Drache]

technically isn't it illegal to deface money?

 

[IronSpike]

technically isn't it illegal to deface money?

Interesting question. If illegal then how can souvenir penny machines be allowed?

 

[Drache]

technically isn't it illegal to deface money?

Interesting question. If illegal then how can souvenir penny machines be allowed?

I was always wondering the same thing!

United States Code
TITLE 18
PART I
CHAPTER 17
331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins

Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of
the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current
or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States;
or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or
sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into
the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered,
defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or
lightened? Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
five years, or both.

 

[Born2Dtect]

Recent laws make melting certain coins down for the metal content illegal. Defacing a coin is not if you are not trying to defraud anyone, like making a penny look like a dime. Coins are often modified to make jewelry, like a coin ring, or medallion.

Ed D.

 

[Drache]

Recent laws make melting certain coins down for the metal content illegal. Defacing a coin is not if you are not trying to defraud anyone, like making a penny look like a dime. Coins are often modified to make jewelry, like a coin ring, or medallion.

Ed D.

The law I quoted above sure makes it sound like any altercation is illegal?

 

[savant365]

Section 331 of Title 18 of the United States code provides criminal penalties for anyone who “fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the Mints of the United States.” This statute means that you may be violating the law if you change the appearance of the coin and fraudulently represent it to be other than the altered coin that it is. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Mint does not promote coloring, plating or altering U.S. coinage: however, there are no sanctions against such activity absent fraudulent intent.


http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/coins/portraits.shtml#q13

 

[Drache]

on another forum a lawyer simply stated:

"You can change the coin by say drilling a hole into it for a necklace or stamping something onto the coin, but you CANNOT then use that coin as currency."

 

[Born2Dtect]

Drache,

The key word is "fraudulently", with intent to defraud, misrepresent.

Ed D.

 

[bradyboy]

not sure I would say it was stamped
the image is embossed (raised
the flip side also had a mark
someone drilled a hole and applied the the two Marks in a like rivet fashion
Brady

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

not sure I would say it was stamped
the image is embossed (raised
the flip side also had a mark
someone drilled a hole and applied the the two Marks in a like rivet fashion
Brady

I thought about that. Yes, this looks to be done with a different tool but the same idea. I guess it was hammered from the backside or squeezed. Search and you will probably find the tool.