Half-tone print, "Remembrance of the First Holy Communion" of "John Tragesser / Holy Trinity Church, Columbia, Pa , 11 June 1916." Signed in ink by the pastor (faded and unable to read).
Picture of Jesus Christ holding a glowing circular medallion with a cross and IHS. Distributed by "The Diederich-Schaefer Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin (No. 2022); and "Printed in Germany."
Lithograph? 2-part marriage certificate in black ink with gold border elements. 2 printed colored flowers are visible through 2 oval cutouts. Certificate announces the marriage of Alice Fisher and John B. Herr.
In 1754 Thomas Cope gave this simple coin to his son, Caleb, when he reached the age of 9. The year on the coin was also the year of Caleb's birth. Twenty-one years later the coin would end up in the hand of a British Officer who would conspire with Benedict Arnold in an attempt to capture one of the colonies' most important military installations.
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."
Twist-rod metal corkscrew with wooden handle and sheath. Marked on handle, "Rohrer's / Liquor Store / 24 & 25 Centre Squre, / Lancaster, PA" Attached label read, "H 324"
