Expert: Cameron Kiefer - 1/11/2006

Question
I am not a collector, but I do own one very unusual coin. I have absolutely no idea where it came from because I have had it as long as I remember. I must have found it somewhere when I was very little because I remember looking at it when I was only 4 or 5 years old. I've researched online and haven't seen anything like it at all. The closest thing I have seen in size and color is the "large pennies".

The "heads" side has no head, but only a floral design surrounding a circle with this inscription around it- K*S*H*T*W*S*S*T*K. (Of course, since it runs in a circle, I don't know which letter is first and which is last!) It says "ONE" at the top and "PENNY" at the bottom.

The rear of the coin has a triangle design in the center. Inside the triangle is what is best described as an upside-down letter "T". This strange design is surrounded by two rings of text. The outer ring reads, "Lousville Chapter No.36 R.A.M., Louisville, Miss." The inside ring reads, "Chartered January 13th, 1852".

Any ideas what this could be? I've never heard of pre-civil war state coins. Is this even a real coin or a forgotten piece from some sort of fair? I can send photos to an email address if you want to see it.

Any reply is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi,

Interesting.  It sounds like some kind of private club or city organization token or medallion but I don't know what kind it is.  This is not my specialty but if you have pictures of it you can e-mail it to me at:  kieferscoins2000@yahoo.com and I might be able to find it in a token reference book.

Cameron Kiefer