JS a N.Y. Mark for a Masonic maker. - SMP Silver Salon Forums

SM Publications

Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.

SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Silver before sterling Forum

A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
Past American Coin Silver Forum topics/threads worth a look
WEV's American Silversmith's Family Tree Project Smith's Index

Silver Salon internal search
or

How to Post Photos

REGISTER (click here)

SMP Silver Salon Forums
tline

American Silver before sterling
tline3

JS a N.Y. Mark for a Masonic maker.

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: JS a N.Y. Mark for a Masonic maker.
labarbedor Posts: 353 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 06-08-2003 02:32 PM [19-0317] This is an Odd fellows presidents jewel. I throw that out rather casually, but to show my ignorance (or more exactly former ignorance) I will tell the story. I bought this when I first started in the business. I was certain it was Indian Trade silver. I showed it to everyone I knew. Nobody knew what it was. The really ignorant thought it was a salt and pepper shaker (there is a vent hole in the head of the hammers). Finally, when I say some late masonic jewels, I realized my ignorance. Subsequently I found many pieces by the same maker. He evidently worked near the Genesee Valley in N.Y. c.1850. I thought I remembered seeing an attribution in Silver Magazine, but I can't find it now. Does anyone know the mark, which has a variation of "J.S.Coin" all in a rectangular cartouche? Maurice IP: Logged
alvina Posts: 1 Registered: Aug 2003	posted 09-26-2003 07:54 PM Maurice, I also have an Odd Fellows president's jewel. Mine is marked J. Seymour coin. According to Katharine Morrison McClinton in Collecting American 19th Century Silver, "Joseph Seymour (1835-1863) who worked in Syracuse, Utica and New York City advertised the making of secret society emblems." Other jewels I have are marked JS coin or just coin. If you have the McClinton book, or can get it, you might enjoy reading her chapter on Silver Masonic Jewels and Medals. Obviously Seymour made jewels for the Odd Fellows as well as Masonic organizations. --Alvina IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 10-01-2003 04:31 PM Here is a coin silver Odd Fellows emblem. It is suspended from a watch pin in the form of a dove holding an olive branch in its beak. I have a question--does anybody know how these fraternal organization emblems would have been worn? I am not positive that the dove pin is original to the Odd Fellows emblem, although they are from the same time period. I just haven't seen the dove motif in conjunction with any O. O. F. symbolism before, and I wasn't sure if the organization would have used a watch pin for its emblems. I would have guessed a neck chain or something. As the pin seems to be an obvious peace symbol, maybe it pertains to the Civil War in some way; e.g., perhaps this pin & emblem set was used in some kind of Odd Fellows peace ceremony or rally during or shortly after the war. The pin is unmarked, and the emblem is stamped "COIN" only. I am almost certain the pin and emblem are from different makers as the construction is completely different (the pin is stamped, the emblem is cast, assembled, and engraved). I do not know who made the emblem, but would like to. Does anybody have any guesses? [gone from the internet - .bc.edu/~lemieuxp/smpub/odd1.jpg] [gone from the internet - .bc.edu/~lemieuxp/smpub/odd2.jpg] [gone from the internet - .bc.edu/~lemieuxp/smpub/odd3.jpg] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 10-01-2003 04:41 PM I wonder if that joining bar wasn't added along with the dove pin. I have pictures of my grandfather from the 30s wearing both Masonic and Odd Fellow jewels and they were worn around the neck suspended from a ribbon about an inch wide. If this was similar, the bar might have replaced the original ring. I've not seen the dove used either; perhaps a later generation combined bits from several pieces to make a wearable piece of jewelry. IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 10-01-2003 04:53 PM WEV, I think you might be onto something. Indeed, the solder looks a little suspect where the bar joins the emblem proper. The only objection I would have is that the bar is what is marked "COIN". But maybe when/if the emblem was altered, the alterers used an old piece of silver that happened to be marked coin. Or they simply stamped the bar "coin". IP: Logged

All times are ET	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a

^1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

^2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

^3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.

| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver