4 encased cents, reverse of indian head, off center, horseshoe and a vulcanite encased

1948 Oval Encased

1948 S Oval Encased. Obverse reads: "GOOD LUCK"

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1948 S Oval Encased. Reverse reads: "SAMUEL AUERBACH INC. / UNUSUAL NOVELTIES / 14 E. 34TH, N.Y.C."

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1948 S Oval Encased Cent

I currently have three oval encasements. I have not seen others on eBay or anywhere else. The above oval encases a 1948 S cent. The encasement advertises SAMUEL AUERBACH INC. / UNUSUAL NOVELTIES / 14 E. 34TH, N.Y.C. I find it unusual for a San Francisco mint marked coin to be encased for a New York City firm, but then it does make a more interesting piece. Note that all three have 1948 S cents. The encasements are all 44 MM by 35 MM.

Note on the obverse that it only says, "GOOD LUCK". Most encasements have the generic "Keep Me & Never Go Broke / I Bring Good Luck. But this piece only has the "Good Luck" and the Horseshoe, Four leaf clover and the Wishbone. On the Obverse there is the advertising message, "SAMUEL AUERBACH INC. / UNUSUAL NOVELTIES / 14 E. 34TH, N.Y.C."

I have been unable to find any information as yet on "Samuel Auerbach Inc." If you have any information regarding "Samuel Auerbach" please let me know.

Obverse Oval Encased 1948 S cent. Obverse reads: "GOOD LUCK" and is on a large horseshoe that follows the rim of the encasement. There is a small wishbone symbol at the bottom and a four leaf clover right under the horseshoe at the top.

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Reverse of the 1948 S oval encased cent. Reverse reads: "State Grand Lodge NO. 6 \ I.O. of G.S. and D. of S / Sixth & Duval Ste. \ Richmond, VA"

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Order of Good Samaritans

Order of Good Samaritans is the second example of oval encased. Both of these are 44 MM by 35 MM and apparently with the same die used for the obverse. Both have a 1948 S cent. The one above is a little worn compared to the example from Auerbach Inc.

The legend on this one reads: State Grand Lodge NO. 6 \ I.O. of G.S. and D. of S / Sixth & Duval Ste. \ Richmond, VA. I.O. of G.S. and D. of S. This is, The Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria. The following quote from The University of Pennsylvania Library:

The Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria was established in New York City in 1847 as a temperance group and a beneficial society. Although founded by white men and women, within a few years African Americans began joining the order, for the most part, segregated into separate lodges. Whites began withdrawing from the order around the time of the Civil War, and before long it was an exclusively African American organization. It was probably one of the largest African American fraternal groups.

The motto of the Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria was, "Love, Purity, and Truth." Its objects included promoting temperance reform, securing charity for the unfortunate, and burying deceased members of the order. Membership was open to women between the ages of 15 and 50, and men between 18 and 50. Abstinence from "intoxicating drinks" was required; members found violating this requirement on one occasion would be suspended, and upon a second violation be expelled. Members could also be expelled for betraying the secrets of the order.

A Philadelphia branch, Golden Star Lodge, No. 4, of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, was organized November 17, 1880, under the jurisdiction of the Right Worthy District Grand Lodge, No. 2, of Pennsylvania and Delaware. That year, the national order counted around 20,000 members in up to 375 lodges located across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Bibliography:

"Constitution and By-Laws of Golden Star Lodge, No. 4, of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria." Philadelphia: Bowie, October 1911. Booklet found in the collection.

Skocpol, Theda, Ariane Liazos, and Marshall Ganz. What a Mighty Power We Can Be: African American Fraternal Groups and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2006. Accessed February 7, 2014. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ku9aOC9OxnMC. Pages 46-47.

Further in the Report of Virginia Bureau of Insurance, 1920 the State Grand Lodge No. 6, Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Sameria of Virginia can be found on line 30 . See image below.

The obverse has a traditional "Good Luck" legend and a wishbone, a four leaf clover and a horseshoe.

I'd like to thank Gerry Tebbens, Harry Waterson, Rich Bottles Jr., Julia Casey, and John Byers, who all provided information and help in identifying this encased cent.

The "Oval Encased" below is the third 1948 S oval I own. The first is not hole for a keychain, while the other two are. All three contain a 1948 S cent and appear to have been made by the same manufacturer.

Obverse of 1948 S oval shaped encased. The encasement is holed at the bottom inside a "wishbone" symbol.

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Reverse of the 1948 S oval encased. Reverse reads: "E. OLIVA / D-AD THAT STAYS - PAYS / P.O. Box 26 Garfield, N. J."

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