Silver seated Liberty coin dated 1853 has been polished smooth on the reverse side and engraved with a beautifully done Masonic square and compass at center. Engraved around the edge is “PRIV. WARD - 13^TH CORPS - U.S.A.” In script below Ward’s name is “C. M. B.” for Chicago Mercantile Battery.

The obverse of the coin still retains its original design of the seated Liberty over the date “1853.”

Research shows that the owner of the tag was Waldo Ward (aka Henry Waldo Ward) who was born on September 16, 1838.

Ward was living in Dundee when he enlisted as a private in Company I of the 52^nd Illinois Infantry on September 11, 1861. At the time he was described as being 5’ 4” tall with brown hair, blue eyes, light complexion and gives his occupation as student.

While he was with the 52^nd the regiment was heavily engaged at Shiloh and Corinth. It is not known for sure when or why Ward left the 52^nd but on October 2, 1863 he enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery at Chicago and remind with them throughout the war seeing action at Sabine Crossroads and Mansfield before being discharged in Chicago on July 10, 1865.

Not much is known about Ward’s post-war life other than he married and later was admitted to the Illinois Soldier’s and Sailor’s Home in Marion County on November 5, 1911.

Ward died on February 16, 1917 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Centralia, Illinois.

Civil War items related to Masons are rare and this piece, with the beautifully done square and compass, makes it a first-class Civil War Masonic piece.    [ad] [ph:L]

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