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FRATERNAL So Called Dollar Size Medals

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The medals below commemorate various men's fraternities, including post Civil War organizations and Militias. HK includes seven similar types: HK593(Militia), HK874(Political), HK908-HK909(KKK), HK37(GAR), HK46(IOOF), and HK525(Masonic). Why the authors of HK included these medals but no others is a bit of a mystery to me, and fraternal medals are not even mentioned in the book's introduction. The inclusion of the two KKK pieces is obviously a bit edgy for many, but in 1963 when HK was published, America was for the most part still united, having earlier won World War II with great sacrifice both in Europe and the Pacific. Many young men of all races, if they survived, came out of the war better off than they went in. The theme of "one country, one language, one religion" was widely accepted. That "united" attitude began to change following the assassination of JFK, and by crazy 1968 the Vietnam war and the civil rights movement led to some obvious soul searching.

Also included here are one YMCA medal, and three Boy Scout jamboree/round-up tokens. The authors of HK included the Boy Scout 50 year anniversary medal(HK577), but no Jamboree medals.

Fraternal medals often commemorated events that were exclusive to their respective organizations. Although some of the larger GAR events may have been an exception, the majority were usually not open to the general public. From that standpoint, such pieces may be a bit on the fringes of traditional so called dollar collecting. Another reason for their exclusion might be that many fraternal commemoratives were made in the form of a badge or fob. Never the less, those that are so called dollar-like are often rare and well executed, and their sometimes arcane and unusual designs can make them interesting.

ROYAL ARCH MASONIC

Philanthropic Lodge Marblehead Massachusetts 1890 Mason Medal

1) Philanthropic Lodge. F. & A.M. / Marblehead, Mass. / 1890 / Philanthropic Lodge. F. & A.M. / Chartered March 25 / 1760 / Marblehead, Mass.; Bronze, 35.1mm

Hiram Lodge Arlington Massachusetts 1797 1897 Mason Medal

2) Centenary Medal / Munroe Tavern Birthplace of Hiram Lodge / 1797 1897 / Hiram Lodge A.F. & A.M. Arlington, Massachusetts / Instituted Dec 12, 1797; tiny "H.M." initials; Bronze, 40.8mm

Baker N-297 Washington Lodge of A.F. & A.M. Centenary 1896 Medal

3) Washington Lodge Of A.F. & A.M. / Centenary 1896 / Hope Faith Charity / Holy Bible; tiny "H.M." initials at base of bust, Baker N-297; Bronze, 40.9mm

Rhode Island Royal Arch Masons Hundredth Anniversary 1898 Medal

4) One Hundredth Anniversary / March 12, 1898 / M.E. Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Rhode Island 1798. Engraved on the edge: "M. E. Arthur H. Armington, Grand High Priest." 10 K Gold, probably unique in gold, 33.5mm

General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons Centennial Baltimore 1897 medal

5) General Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Masons U.S.A. / Centennial / E. Kirby G. L. McCahan / Boston Oct, 24. 1797 / Hartford Jan. 24, 1798 / Baltimore Oct. 12, 1897, Bronze, 41.9mm

Landmark Lodge Semi Centennial Anniversary A.L. 5850 medal

6) Landmark Lodge No. 76. A.F.M.S.C. / A.L. 5850. / To Commemorate Our Semi-Centennial Anniversary December 11, A.L. 5900; Bronze, 37.9mm

Death Of Washington Masonic Celebration 1899 Mount Vernon medal

7) Masonic Celebration In Commemoration Of The Centennial / Of The Death Of Washington Mount Vernon, Va. / December 14. / 1899 / George Washington Master Of Alexandria, Va. / Lodge No 22 / 1788 / A.F. / A.M., Bronze, 37.6mm

6th Annual Meeting General Masonic Relief Association 1891 medal

8) 6th Annual Meeting Gen’l Masonic Relief Assoc’n / United States And Canada / Sep. 23. 25. 1891 / United States Capitol; White Metal, 37.8mm

Green Dragon Tavern First Meeting Grand Royal Arch Masons 1798 medal

9) First Meeting Held In "Masons Hall" Boston / Centennial / Green Dragon Tavern / Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Massachusetts / March 13, 1798; Bronze, 40.9mm

Bay City Masonic Temple Destroyed by fire Copper salvage medal 1893 1903

10) Masonic Temple / Bay City, Mich. / Dedicated May 10th 1898 / Destroyed By Fire May 19th 1903 / Made From Copper Taken From The Ruins Of The Temple; Bronze, 33.3mm

St Andrews Royal Arch Masons Boston 125th Anniversary 1769 1894 medal

11) St. Andrews Royal Arch Chapter / Boston Mass. / August 12 1769 / 125th Anniversary / 1769 1894. Stacks sold one of these in silver with hanger March 2019 lot#10144; Bronze; 37.3mm

Semi Centennial Saginaw Michigan Lodge Masonic Temple medal

12) The Masonic Temple Saginaw Michigan / 5893-5905 / To Commemorate The Semi-Centennial / Of Saginaw Lodge No. 77 F. & A.M. Saginaw Michigan / June 23rd A.L. 5855 / June 23rd A.L. 5905, In small lettering below edifice "D. Child & Co" Gilt, 40.0mm

Grand Lodge Iowa Library Building Corner Stone 1884 medal

13) Labor Omnia Superat / G. B. Van Saun. Gr. Master, T.S. Marvin, Gr. Sec. / Grand Lodge Of Iowa A.F & A.M. / Constituted January 8. 1844. / Library Building Corner Stone May 7. 1884. / Quid Utilius; Bronze, 35mm

The Miners Bonanza Rocky Mountains Masonic Conclave Denver 1892 medal

13a) Obverse the same as the reverse of HK-229. The Miners Bonanza. K. T. Conclave Denver August 1892. Around Bottom: "W. W. Frisholm, Manfr. Leadville, Colo."

Masonic Home Dedication Burlington, New Jersey 1898 medal

13b)Masonic Home Dedication 1898 Burlington, New Jersey. In tiny lettering below alter, "Wm Thegen / Phila". Bronze, 38.2mm

Mount Lebanon Lodge Boston Centenary 5801 5901 medal

13c) Centennial of Lebanon Lodge, Boston June 10, 5801-5901(1801-1901). Bronze, 39.1 mm. Image courtesy Jonathan Brecher.

Albany New York R A M February 1898 Grand Chapter medal

13d) 1898 Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons Albany New York. Bronze, 44.7mm, 4.8mm thick

New Masonic Temple-Dedicated September 26 1873 Philadelphia medal

13e) Dedication of the New Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, September AD 1873, AL 5873

SCOTISH RITE MASONIC

Silver Jubilee February 1903 Grand Rapids 1878 Clinton Consistory Medal

14) Silver Jubilee / February 24th 25th & 26th 1903 / DeWitt Clinton Consistory S.P.R.S. / Grand Rapids, A.D. 1878. "Childs Chicago" in tiny lettering; Silver, 38.2mm

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Oriental Consistory Chicago 1801 1901 medal

15) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite / 1801 Centennial 1901 Henry L. Palmer / Oriental Consistory S.P.R.S. / Chicago, A.D. 1856; In small lettering " Childs Chicago" Bronze, 38.6mm

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

1889 Triennial Conclave Washington DC City Mexico Club medal

16) City Of Mexico Club, K.T. Of Phila, Pa. / Triennial Conclave At Washington D.C. 1889 / Philadelphia, St. Johns, Mary, St Alban & Corinthian Commanders Phila, Pa.; Found in bronze and white metal; Bronze, 37.9mm

24th Triennial Conclave Knights Templar United States Capitol

17) 24th Triennial Conclave Knights Templar / Washington, D.C. Oct. 1889 / United States Capitol; Bronze, 37.8mm

Annual Conclave Knights Templar May 1887 In Hoc Signo Vinces Medal

18) In Hoc Signo Vinces / Annual Conclave Masonic Knights Templar Philadelphia, Pa. May 23-25, 1889; Found in bronze and white metal, Bronze, 37.9mm

Denver August 1892 Twenty Fifth Triennial Conclave Knights Templar Medal

19) Twenty Fifth Triennial Conclave Knights Templar / 5892 / Denver Colorado / Masonic Temple / August 6-18, 1892; Aluminum, 38mm

Bruce Commandery No. 34 Knights Templar Red Oak Iowa Land Corn Blue Grass Medal

19a) Bruce Commandery No. 34 Knights Templar Red Oak Iowa / Land of Corn and Blue Grass / undated / Aluminum, 38.3mm

GRAND ARMY of the REPUBLIC

Milwaukee Wisconsin 1889 23rd Annual Encampment GAR Medal

20) Twenty Third Annual Encampment G.A.R. / Milwaukee, Wis. Aug. 1889 / Fraternity Charity Loyalty / 1861 Veteran 1866; Reverse design the same as the Obverse below, and although it does not look like it from my images, this medal is larger in size. Both were most probably minted by William Warner & Brother of Philadelphia. Bronze, 37.6mm

Boston 1890 Twenty Fourth Annual Encampment Medal

20a) Twenty Fourth Annual Encampment G.A.R. / Boston, Massachusetts. Aug. 1890 / Fraternity Charity Loyalty / 1861 Veteran 1866; Obverse design the same as the Reverse above, and although it does not look like it from my images, this medal is smaller in size. Bronze, 35.1mm

B. F. Stephenson Founder Grand Army of the Republic Decatur 1891 Medal

21) Dr. B.F. Stephenson Founder Of The Grand Army Of The Republic / 25th Anniversary Of The G.A.R. / Decatur, Ill. April 6. 1891.; Bronze, 37.7mm

Dedication Monuments 1886 Gettysburg Grand Army Republic medal

24) Grand Army Of The Republic Veterans 1866 / G.A.R. Encampment / At Gettysburg Pa. / Dedication Of Monuments In July 1886; White Metal, 37.9mm

Washington DC Grand Army Republic Encampment 1902 medal

25) 36th Annual Encampment 1902 / Fraternity Charity Loyalty / 1861 1865; White Metal, 37.9mm

41st GAR Encampment Soldiers Sailors Monument Easton Pennsylvania Medal

26) 41st Annual Encampment Dept. Of Pa. G.A.R. / Soldiers And Sailors Monument Easton Pa.; Bronze, 35.2mm

Citizens Of Rochester Grand Army Of The Republic 1901 Medal

28) Compliments Of The Citizens Of Rochester / 1901 / Grand Army Of The Republic / Dept. N. Y.; White Metal, 35.1mm

Lincoln Grand Army of the Republic 1861 1865 Medal

28a) Lincoln / Fraternity Charity Loyalty / 1861 1865; Same obverse as a Lincoln Birth/Death medal from 1909; Bronze, 37.9mm

General William T. Sherman Lancaster, Ohio 1902 36th Encampment Birth Medal

28b) General William T. Sherman / 1902 36th GAR Encampment Lancaster, Ohio / Birth Place; White Metal, 37.7mm

DR. B. F. Stephenson Founder Of The G.A.R. Aluminum Medal

28c) "Dr. B. F. Stephenson Founder Of The G.A.R.", Aluminum, 37 mm. Image courtesy Jonathan Brecher.

Lancaster Pennsylvania GAR 1884 Encampment Medal

28d) Annual Encampment Department of Pennsylvania in Lancaster, February 1884. White metal, 37 mm. Image courtesy Josef Traktovenko.

Seventeenth Annual Encampment Grand Army of the Republic Denver 1888 Medal

28e) Seventeenth Annual Encampment G.A.R in Denver Colorado July 1888. Found in White metal or Bronze. Image courtesy Scott Safe

CONFEDERATE VETERANS

Robert E Lee Confederate Veterans Dallas 1902 Medal

29) General R. E. Lee / Confederate Union Dallas Tex. April 22-25. 1902; Bronze, 35mm, Image courtesy of Randy Dobler

Robert E Lee Confederate Veterans Dallas 1902 Medal

29a) Same as above but Augusta, Georgia 1903; Bronze, 35mm

Medal

29b) Jefferson Davis Ex President CSA 1861-65 / Re-Union Of Confederate Veterans Macon, Ga. Oct. 26th 1887 / A. Demarest N.Y.; White metal, 38.2mm

Reunion of Pickets Division Gettysburg July 1887 Medal

29c) Commemorating a reunion of the Picketts Division of Confederate Veterans at Gettysburg in July of 1887. White Metal, 33mm. Images courtesy of Kevin Himber.

Jefferson Davis Confederate Veterans Reunion Georgia State Fair 1887 Medal

29d) "A Memento of the Reunion of Confederate Veterans at the Georgia State Fair Oct. 26, 1887" Related to HK-610 with a different portrait of Jefferson Davis. Rulau Ga-AT 10. The Kirtley sale as stated in Rulau was actually August 22, 1987, not July. Bronze, 38mm. Images courtesy of Kevin Himber.

UNION VETERAN LEGION

Union Veterans Legion 1901 Major General W. S. Hancock Medal

29e) The Union Veteran Legion was similar to the GAR, but with more restrictive acceptance requirements, founded in the mid 1880s. White Metal, 35mm, Image courtesy Josef Traktovenko.

ORDER Of LOYAL LEGION

25th Anniversary Of Order Of Loyal Legion 1890 Philadelphia Medal

30) 25th Anniversary Of The Order Of Loyal Legion / Held At Philad’a, Pa April 15-17 1890; White Metal, 37.6mm, Image courtesy of Randy Dobler

ARMY Of The POTOMAC

Army Of The Potomac Reunion Saratoga 1887 Monument Medal

27) Army Of The Potomac Reunion Saratoga June 22. 23. 1887.; White Metal, 38mm, Image courtesy Randy Dobler

ARMY Of The TENNESSEE

Reunion of the Army of the Tennessee Detroit 1887 medal

23) Reunion Of The Army Of The Tennessee / Detroit. Mich. Sep. 14 & 15 1887.; Bronze, 35mm

SONS of the AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Sons Of The American Revolution National Convention April 1902 Medal

31) National Congress / Sons Of The / American Revolution / Welcome To Washington / April 30. May 2. 1902; Bronze, 40.7mm

IMPROVED ORDER of HEPTASOPHS

Heptasophs New Haven IOH Connecticut Souvenir 1895 medal

32) Instituted / Aug. 28. 1878 / Souvenir / 12th Regular Session / I.O.H. / May 21. 1895 / New Haven, Conn.; Aluminum, 38mm

IMPROVED ORDER of RED MEN

Improved Order Of Red Men G. S. D. 405 Totemic Bond Medal

33) Freedom Friendship Charity / G.S.D. 405 / Our Totemic Bond / G.S.D. 405.; Bronze, 38.1mm

Improved Order Red Men Grand Council Milwaukee Bay Cream City medal

34) Grand Council United States / Improved Order Of Red Men / A Souvenir Of The Cream City. / Milwaukee Bay; Bronze, 38.5mm

WOODMEN of the WORLD

Woodmen Of The World Omaha Nebraska Fraser Medal

35) Sovereign Commander / W.A. Fraser / Woodmen Of The World / Omaha, Neb.; Aluminum, 37 x 28.5mm

ODD FELLOWS

Dedication of the Odd Fellows Temple Philadelphia 1895 Medal

36) Odd Fellows Temple / Philadelphia / Dedicated 1895 / Official Medal Commemorating The Dedication Of The Odd Fellows Temple. Nicely executed medal with an exceptional reverse wreath. Look below for another 1895 Odd Fellows temple medal. 37.9mm

Thomas Wildey Odd Fellows Temple Philadelphia 1895 Medal

36a) A second 1895 Odd Fellows Temple dedication medal with an obverse Thomas Wildey portrait. Exact same size as the medal above, so no doubt minted by the same minter, perhaps William Warner. The quality of the workmanship on both medals is quite good. White Metal, 37.9mm

Odd Fellows Home Connecticut Purchased Opened Dedicated medal

37) The Odd Fellows’ Home Of Connecticut / "Fairview" / Purchased July 21st 1982 / Opened Dec. 1st 1892 / April 26th 1893 Dedicated / Grand master Charles B. Ware / Deputy Grand Master Wm. H. Marigold / Grand Warden Leopold De Leeuw / Grand Secretary Fred. Botsford / Grand Treasurer John W. Smith; a tiny "C" at the bottom. Aluminum, 39.7mm

First Odd Fellows Home Of Pennsylvania 1874 1875 Medal

38) The Odd Fellows Home Of Pennsylvania / Philadelphia / The First Home In The World Organized By Any Fraternal Organization / Instituted November 1874 / Incorporated July 10th 1875; White Metal, 38.1mm

Odd Fellows Home New Jersey 1885 1888 medal

39) Odd Fellows Home / Of New Jersey. / Organized Aug. 8th 1885 Dedicated June 14th 1888; in tiny lettering split to the left and right: Bechtel Trenton; White Metal, 37.9mm

Odd Fellows Hall Waterbury Dedication 1895 50th Anniversary Medal

40) Odd Fellows Hall Waterbury. / Conn. / Dedication Of Odd Fellows Hall Oct 15th 1895 / Nosanogam And Townsend Lodges The 50th Anniversary. / 1845 / 1895; Aluminum, 44.5mm

Chicago Cantonment August 1890 IOOF Souvenir Medal

41) Chicago Cantonment / August 3-10 1890 / IOOF Souvenir; White Metal, 40.1mm

Worlds Highest Smoke Stack Great Falls Montana San Francisco IOOF 1915 Medal

41a) Sovereign Grand Lodge San Francisco 1915. Depicting the world's highest Smokestack, Great Falls, Montana. Copper, 34.9mm

NATIVE SONS of the GOLDEN WEST

50th Grand Parlor Native Sons Golden West Sepulveda San Pedro Medal

42) 50th Grand Parlor N.S.G.W. San Pedro / Sepulveda Parlor No 263 / 1927 / "50" /J.A. Meyers & Co. Los Angeles; Gilt, 33mm, Image courtesy of Randy Dobler

ELKS

BPO Elks One Buck Grand Lodge Los Angeles 1915 Bear medal

43) Grand Lodge Reunion / Los Angeles / California 1915 / B.P.O. Elks / One Buck. Appears to me to be similar in style to HK-432. Copper, 38.4mm

BPOE 1907 Grand Lodge Reunion Philadelphia Milwaukee Bay medal

43a) Grand Lodge Reunion No. 46 Home 1907 Philadelphia July Souvenir of the Cream City Milwaukee Bay, Gilt Brass, 36.4mm

EAGLES

Fraternal Order Eagles Kansas City Aerie 1898 1904 Souvenir medal

44) Dedicated Oct. 26, 1904. / Souvenir / Fraternal Order Of Eagles / Organized Feb. 6, 1898 / Kansas City Aerie No. 47.; Aluminum, 38.4mm

Fraternal Order Eagles 50th Anniversary 1898 1948 medal

44) 50th Anniversary of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles 1898 1948, Gilt Brass, 33.6mm

JUNIOR ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS

National Orphans Home Tiffin Ohio Administration Building Jr Order U A M

45) Official souvenir of the National Orphans Home in Tiffin Ohio. Aluminum, 44.8mm

TURNVEREIN(Turners)

Turn Hall Milwaukee 1864 Erinnerung Seid Einig medal

45) In Memory of the 1864 Dedication of the Milwaukee Turn Hall. In 1864 the Turners were not a fraternal organization, but more of a society based on German heritage and physical fitness. On this website I include "Association" and "Commission" commemoratives as main stream so called dollars due to their usual "Public" function, but exclude strictly fraternal medals as shown on this page. A "society" such as this however seems to me to fall somewhere in the middle, but I decided to include it here, at least for now. Today Turner physical fitness centers are open to the general public. White Metal, 41.7mm

TROY CITIZENS CORP

Fiftieth Anniversary Troy New York Citizens Corps September 1885

46) Fiftieth Anniversary / September 23, 1885. / Troy Citizens Corps. / Organized September 23, 1885; White Metal, 36mm. Image courtesy of Randy Dobler.

ANCIENT and HONORABLE ARTILLERY of MASSACHUSETTS

 1638 Baltimore October 1896 Ancient And Honorable Artillery Massachusetts Medal

47) Ancient And Honorable Artillery Co. / Massachusetts / 1638 / Souvenir / engraved: Baltimore Oct. 96; Aluminum, 34mm

YMCA

YMCA The field is the world medal

48) Young Men’s Christian Association / YMCA Social Spiritual Intellectual Physical / The Field Is The World Matt. XIII 38; Aluminum, 35.5mm

BOY SCOUTS

Boy Scouts National Jamboree Valley Forge Hallowed Ground 1950 medal

49) National Jamboree Vally Forge 1950 / BSA / On This Hallowed Ground Where Washington And His Army Spent The Bitter Winter Of 1777-78 The Boy Scouts Of America Rededicate Themselves To The American Ideals Of Democracy With A Firm Resolution To Strengthen The Arm Of Liberty; Gilt, 36.7mm

Boy Scouts America Centennial Roundup Cleveland 1957 medal

50) 1857 / Baden-Powell / 1857 / 1957 / 1957 Centennial Round-Up Greater Cleveland Council Boy Scouts Of America; Gilt, 36.5mm

Boy Scouts America 1953 Jamboree Irvine California 1953 medal

51) National Jamboree Irvine Ranch Calif. / Boy Scouts Of America / 1953; Copper Nickel, 38.8mm

 

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