OLD COLONY TRUST BUILDING COIN SCULPTURES

The images of the Philadelphia bank building in the past two issues of The E-Sylum reminded me of an old bank building here in Boston that I pass on my commute to work every day. It is the former Old Colony Trust building which is now the New England Center and Home for Veterans. It is located at 17 Court Street and it backs up to Government Center plaza across from City Hall. The address also happens to be the location where Ben Franklin apprenticed on the New England Courant and later where the Boston Gazette was published. The Massachusetts Chapter of the Sons of Revolution placed a plaque about it on the front of the building in 1913.

 

What makes it similar to the Philadelphia bank are some friezes on the back of the building (the Government Center side). They divide the first row of windows above ground level. There are six, and the middle four are modeled after Massachusetts-themed coins. The building was built in 1908 so these must date to the 1920s or later because one is the Pilgrim Tercentenary half-dollar. They are (from left to right):

• The 1788 Massachusetts cent reverse (without the word CENT on the shield)
• The 1788 Massachusetts cent obverse
• The Pilgrim Tercentenary half-dollar obverse
• The Pine Tree Shilling obverse

These aren't as nice as the Philadelphia ones but I still thought they'd be fun to share.

 

 

 

 

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 10, 2022 : Fugio Cent on Philadelphia Bank Building (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n15a18.html)
PHILADELPHIA BANK BUILDING COIN SCULPTURES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n16a07.html)

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