Coin and Paper Money Collecting/odd coin

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Question
Hi:
I have a coin with the inscription "tyrean chapter No. 8 R.A.M.
Crewe, VA" (along the outer ring of one side).  The next ring reads "Chartered September 5 1889".  In the center is reads "one penny". I am 99% sure it isn't worth anything (I'm not lucky), I could not find anything online, but I am curious.
Thank you.
carol

Answer

Hi Carol,
First of all please accept my apologies that you had to wait so long for an answer. The expert you originally posed the question to passed it along to our 'question pool" and I only saw it today.
Your item does actually have some value, especially if it's in good condition.
What you have here is an early 1900's Masonic/Freemason lodge penny token. These were made by many of the vast amount of Masonic lodges in the US, as well as overseas.
As such, they are highly collectible. The ones I have sold on eBay in the past ranged from around $10 up to $25 depending on condition and also the location mentioned on the token.
A point of interest: these would typically have the initials of the person they were awarded to, just like the one in the attached picture. If there are no initials it means you have on that was never awarded. That does not affect the value much and, if anything, collectors prefer the ones without initials carved into them.
Thanks for the question! =)

    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentHi Dimitry: Thank you for responding to the question. I'm glad it was answered. Usually when I ask a question I can't find online, others can't tell me either. Thanks again. Carol


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Dmitry Livshits

Expertise

My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.

Experience

Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.

Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).

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