Masonic Stamped Lincoln Cents--Secret Mtg admission token?

[beefsteak]

Anyone ever seen one of these masonic symbol counterstamped Lincoln cents before? Any history on the one you either found or know about?

Thanks. This is a new, post minting counterstrike to me, and is an oddity to say the least.


beefsteak


http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/uploaded/BadThad/20110226_masonCounterStamp.jpg

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/uploaded/BadThad/20110226_masonCounterStampREV.jpg

[k-os]

I've never seen one before. It's probably another way of greeting another mason, like their secret handshakes/passwords/etc. . . . showing him the stamped penny. Just a guess.

[Horn]

The stamped used to stamp that was better meant for creating buttons than branding flat coins.

It is deformed/defaced beyond a useable penny.

[Heimdhal]

I have one!




(no, I am not a Mason)

[Horn]

(no, I am not a Mason)

I'll bet you're never caught at the lodge without it though...

[LuckyStrike]

A guy I know through work showed me one, I can't remember how he said he got it. He isn't a mason, I think he either found it or got it back in change or garage sale.

[madfranks]

The patina on the reverse of that cent is really nice!

[beefsteak]

Thanks everyone who responded. I've always been kind of fascinated by what people do to the lowly Lincoln cent, including elongate them.


beefsteak