Coin of dull gray nonferrous cast metal in an irregular shape, replicating a Spanish piece of eight. One side has a central cross dividing the space into quadrants, two filled with a rampant lion and two with a stylized castle. Opposite side has a pirate ship with skull and crossbones prominently emblazoned on one sail, while top sail has "PIRATES / LANCASTER / PA" in raised letters.
Produced under the auspices of the Pirates Club of Lancaster as an emblem of their men's club, likely a later rendition of the original produced c. 1948. See Notes.
Some wear and flattening on coin edge. Faces have some wear at salient points.
Object ID
2009.003.7
Notes
This coin is perhaps the one described below, or perhaps a later incarnation. The following is lifted from the history given on their website:
"A beautiful emblem of membership was suggested and adopted at a dinner meeting October 21, 1948, following a cruise to the United States Naval Base in Philadelphia. It is a sterling pocket piece – the piece-of-eight - and insures the distribution of plenty of booty. The reserve of this fine coin carries the H.S. Williamson in full sail. Her flag shows, “Pirates of Lancaster, PA.” the coin is an exact replica of a piece-of-eight “the last one left of 4,623 picked up off the Azores some years ago.” The emblems: skull and cross bones, crows nest compass, treasure map, cutlass, tri-cornered hat, Pirate chest and a bottle of rum."
Board of Directors of Farmers Bank and Trust Company. Seated clockwise: Weidman, Storb, Suter, Godshalk, McClure, Dunlap, Snyder, Hubbard, Shand, Ryan, Sinkler, Darmstaetter and Levy. Standing left to right: Robinson, Effing, Garrett, Van Dusen.
Lancaster County Gas Division of UGI, Quarter Century Club Banquet at the Hamilton Club. Seated left to right: W. D. McElroy, J. H. Mackenzie, G. M. Jones, Kathryn Gabriel, Helen Martin, W. E. Colvin, K. B. Anderson, F. J. Buttner. Standing front row, left to right: J. L. Harrison, Harry Murr, Paul Kendig, R. L. Yeager, George Groff, Ray Kendig, Andrew J. Leib Sr., George Schanerberger, John Groft Sr., Ralph Potts, John Schweers, Lloyd Ashby, James Cole, B. L. DeVerter. Standing back row, left to right: Barton S. Kent, J. M. Colon, George Myers, Everett Harner, Paul DeVerter, Ivan Campbell, Abraham Johns, Roy Oberlin, John Ursprung, Earl Campbell, Sylvan Gochanauer, Joseph Libus, Arthur Seeley.
