1000 Dollars Brazen Coin - Modern Woodmen Of America ND

Reverse

Upside down hammer and axe, handles crossed, wedge above
legend above, value below between 2 rings

Script: Latin

Lettering:
BRAZEN COIN
$ 1000

Comment

The $1000 Brazen Coin from the MWA is a reference to a $1000 life insurance policy issued by that organization.

Modern Woodmen of America was founded by Joseph Cullen Root on Jan. 5, 1883, in Lyons, Iowa.[8] He had operated a number of businesses, including a mercantile establishment, a grain elevator, and two flour mills, sold insurance and real estate, taught bookkeeping classes, managed a lecture bureau, and practiced law.[10] Root was a member of several fraternal societies through the years. He wanted to create an organization that would protect families following the death of a breadwinner.

During a Sunday sermon, Root heard the pastor tell a parable about the good that came from woodmen clearing away the forest to build homes, communities, and security for their families. He adopted the term "woodmen." To complete the name, "modern" reflected the need to stay current and change with the times. "Of America" was added to symbolize patriotism.

Originally, Modern Woodmen had a unique set of membership restrictions and criteria. Religiously, the group was quite open, accepting "Jew and Gentile, the Catholic and Protestant, the agnostic and the atheist." On the other hand, membership was restricted to white males between the ages of 18-45 and only in the 12 "healthiest" states – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas. Residents of large cities were also disqualified from membership. Finally, those employed in a long list of professions were also prohibited from joining: railway brakemen, railway engineers, railway firemen, railway switchmen, miners employed underground, pit bosses, "professional rider and driver in races", employee in a gunpowder factory, wholesaler or manufacturer of liqueur, saloon keeper, saloon barkeeper, "aeronaut", sailor on the lakes or seas, plough polisher, brass finisher, professional baseball player, professional firemen, submarine operator or soldier in the regular army in a time of war.

In 1884, the head office was organized in Fulton, Illinois. The first death claim of $698.58 was paid the same year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Woodmen_of_America#History