Masonic Numismatics.

6 . "Masonic Token , Brother SMaldey Birmingham " forms the sixth . 7 . The seventh is one mentioned by Lieut . Col . Francis Burdett ( Pro . G . M ., Middlesex ) , and Avas used by him at the Royal Installation of 1875 the words on

, the rim being the same as No . 1 , only that the qualification Halfpenny is added , and reads , Masonic Halfpenny Token , J . Schichley , Fecit 1794 . " * We incline , however , to the belief that this is actually the same as No . 2 .

8 . The last of this kind ( the eighth in number ) gives a few particulars of the maker , and is as folloAvs , " Masonic Token , J . Skelehley , R . A ., F . G . S ., Birmingham , Fecit " ( 1794 ) , of which Ave have only seen the one impressionand which is preserved

, in the Masonic Collection of the Hon . Robert Farmer Bower , of Keokuk , P . G . H . P . of IoAva . It is singular that the name is spelt Schichley and Sketchley in different coins . f

9 . Another kind is still to be met Avith occasionally , the obverse of which agrees with all the foregoing , but the reverse bears the bust of H . R . H . Frederick , Duke of York , the title being engraved around , and under are the words "Halfpenny , 1795 . "

A coin of this character is technically termed a " mule , " being made up of an old aud of a new die . On the rim is " Payable in Dublin or London . " His Royal Highness the Duke of York was initiated on the 21 st November 1787 by H . R . H . the

, , Duke of Cumberland , the Grand Master , the acting Deacon being H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , of Avhose admission into our ancient and honourable society early in the name year Ave have already made note .

10 . We have also obtained another impression of a similar kind , having the ordinary obverse , and the reverse containing a bust of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . The inscription engraved thereon is " Geo . Prince of Wales , Halfpenny . " Three varieties in the rims have been so far traced ty us , viz .: ( 10 ) " Payable in Lancaster ,

London or Bristol - " ( 11 ) " Payable at London or Dublin - " and ( 12 ) "Payable at London or Bristol . " The accompanying Illustrations ( Fig . 2 ) will serve to give an accurate representation of these tAvo Masonic rarities .

13 . Still another of the "Mule" variety is that circulated by the Boormans in A . D , 1795 . The rim informs us that it was " Payable at J . and H . Boorman . " In this case the obverse has an additional ' . ' square and compasses , " which is exhibited

in the accompanying Illustrations ( Fig . 3 ) , as well as the inscription on the reverse . We cannot UOAV determine Avhich was first in origin , No . 13 or No . 14 . The former has evidently reproduced the " Arms" of the Schichley Token of 1794 , though the motto is the same as the large and scarce coin hereafter referred to .

We have had the pleasure of personall y examining all the impressions named excepting that of Bro . Colonel Burdett ' s , and so the descriptions are derived from actual observation . We have been told that some of these Tokens Avere struck in

gold , but Ave have not succeeded in discovering any confirmation of this , and one correspondent in the " Freemason" for June 19 th , 1795 , distinctly states that the one he ( Brother James A . Hayes ) met Avith was simply " copper gilt . "

14 . Of those already noted several have never been described in any Avay previously and are likely enough little knoAvn to Masonic collectors . We have still another impression to chronicle , and this time one of the rarest and most valuable of all the

series . We know only of tAvo impressions of the Token , one being in the possession of our learned Brother , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A . ( from whose collection of Masonic Coins tlie Illustrations for this article Itmie all been copied ) , and the other

is OAvned by that zealous Masonic bibliographer , the Hon . It . F . BoAver , of Keokuk , both coins being only recently obtained . For the information of the curious we may state that the diameter is one inch and a quarterthe thickness the twelfth of an

, inch ( circa ) , and the weight over half an ounce . From the rim we gather that it was " Manufactured by W . Lutwyclie , Birmingham , " and from the engraving it will be seen that it is quite a different Token