Need help with this token

[DirtStalker]

Just dug this right before dark. Its larger than a quarter and rings like silver. Any clues?

 

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[idahotokens]

Ty--one of a number of varieties of Masonic "Pennies". R. A. M. = Royal Arch Mason. The SGC initials in the center are the initials of the man who received this pocket piece when he was "made a Mason". There is currently underway work on a national book on Masonic pennies and shekels.
John in the Great 208

 

[DirtStalker]

IT It seems like a silver coin. Are the made in silver?

 

[idahotokens]

Hmmm... I don't really know - I've only seen brass/copper. But maybe this is a sheckel (which I don't know a lot about either, but sounds like a cut above a penny). I just looked in the 1901 online book, Masonic Chapter Pennies by Dr. B. P. Wright - that is the most recent catalog of them (!) - and it lists that one as brass, but I wouldn't bet the farm on that being the case for your. Anybody else know for sure?
John

 

[DirtStalker]

Yes I just looked through that same book. I believe this is a shekel. I saw some that were made of copper and had cut corners like this with the same reverse. If its not silver its silver plate. Its heavy and has that distinct silver ring to it.

 

[DirtStalker]

The reverse

 

[Mackaydon]

The reverse image is that of a coin minted during the Jewish War (66-70CE) That coin's composition was silver. More specifically, your item's image is similar to that of a coin issued during Year 2 (67-68CE) and it is so designated as a "Year 2" coin from the Jewish War of 66-70 CE.
The image is that of a 'temple vessel' surrounded by the Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shekel of Israel" (if it were to weigh about 14 grams; or about half that for a 'half a shekel'.
Don.....

 

[DirtStalker]

Thanks guys I appreciate your help. There still is a Mt Zion lodge in Ga. Its website says it was established I believe in 1887. This says instituted in 1843. I emailed Mt Zion and email came back undeliverable. I then sent email to the Ga Grand Lodge seeking info. I'll let ya know should I get reply.

 

[rgreever]

From Atlanta Georgia. It might be silver, is might be some type of white metal or nickel. The the shekel is one of the many styles of Masonic tokens.
This isn't one of the known varieties on the TokenCatalog site, where a 13,000 token collection is being recorded.
Is it ok to post your images there? Thanks

 

[tokensmith]

Silver masonic chapter pennies are almost always marked as such. If you run a search for R.A.M. STERLING on tokencatalog, you will find a number of examples. If yours doesn't have such a mark, it's probably white metal.

 

[DirtStalker]

Silver masonic chapter pennies are almost always marked as such. If you run a search for R.A.M. STERLING on tokencatalog, you will find a number of examples. If yours doesn't have such a mark, it's probably white metal.

Someone suggested I email Tom Carson his reply about Masonic shekels ..........."There are a lot of them that are silver, sterling and plate."

 

[midnightcamaro]

Whatever its made from.....its a cool find!!!!

 

[DirtStalker]

Thanks Brad I've found a handful of tokens over the years mostly mill and store variety but I have to say this one got me excited the most. I never realized this kind of token existed and thanks to Idaho and others for all the help. It seems like a boatload of varieties of Masonic shekels and pennies were made. It has to be quite an undertaking for those that are cataloging them.

 

[midnightcamaro]

Yea....it amazes me to read through some of these posts....im always thinking "how do these people know all this!!" Lol. And tylerbdad id go nuts if I found something that cool lol

 

[DirtStalker]

Yea....it amazes me to read through some of these posts....im always thinking "how do these people know all this!!" Lol. And tylerbdad id go nuts if I found something that cool lol

Brad I promise that you will start finding stuff like I say the more you learn your machine the Luckier you will get. Just takes time and patience. Just keep swinging

 

[midnightcamaro]

I plan to....im still having a blast regardless what I find....everything is a treasure to me lol

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very nice find TBD!