(c.1893) Medal JAB-41 Copper Cornerstone Laying MA Masonic

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 MS65RB 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This circa 1893 copper medal cataloged as JAB-41 commemorates a Masonic cornerstone-laying ceremony in Massachusetts. John Adams Bolen was deeply connected to Masonic organizations in Springfield, and several of his medals document Masonic buildings, ceremonies, and symbols. The cornerstone-laying ceremony is one of Freemasonry's most public rituals, traditionally performed with specialized tools and ceremonial procedures that date back centuries. The obverse depicts elements of the cornerstone-laying ceremony, while the reverse provides identifying inscriptions for the specific Massachusetts lodge and building involved. Bolen's Masonic medals form a distinct subcategory within his larger body of work, appealing to collectors of both Bolen medals and Masonic memorabilia. The copper composition was well-suited to ceremonial medals, offering durability and attractive surface quality. JAB-41 represents one of Bolen's final catalog entries, produced near the end of his active medal-making career. The Masonic subject matter connects to a tradition of lodge-commissioned commemorative medals that extends throughout American numismatic history, from colonial-era tokens to modern fraternal issues. Bolen's contributions to this tradition are distinguished by their superior engraving quality and the personal connection he brought to subjects drawn from his own community.

Rarity Notes

Masonic medals by Bolen were struck in small quantities, typically 15-30 pieces. JAB-41 in copper is scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #886881; JAB-41 (Copper); Masonic