NOW Articles Written By Members

An Argument for Collecting Half Dollars

A Tavern Tale

Late Night and a Russian Type Set

Old Country Coins: Newfoundland’s Rarest 5-Cent

Tokens For Your Taken

Milwaukee Medals: Fifth Ward Constable

A look back at a common, but classic commemorative – Wisconsin’s Territorial Centennial

A side-tracked story: Mardi Gras Doubloons

To name a street

Numismatic Relics

A look back at a collecting specialty – the O.P.A. ration tokens of WWII

Bullion And Coin Tax Exemption – Act Now!

Is There A Twenty Cent Piece We Can Add To A Collection

Capped Bust Half Dollars: A Numismatic Legacy

U.S. Innovation Dollars: Our Most Under-Collected Coin?

My 2023 ANA Summer Seminar Adventure

An Icon Goes On

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This badge appears to be silver with black enamel filled in engraved lettering. The size is 66.35 mm tall and 57 mm wide. The fifth ward was established in 1846 but this badge is not that old. The wards hired ward constables and were a holdover from the time before the establishment of the Milwaukee Police Department in 1855. Aldermen at the time were responsible for maintaining ward law and order.

They were allowed to hire ward constables and night watchmen. The only other law enforcement at the time would have been the lone village marshal and the county sheriff. The ward constable badges must have been private purchase badges as evidenced by how prominently Mr. Green's name is on this fifth ward badge. This badge dates from around 1885 and was probably made by the Northwestern Stamp Company based on the pin’s split end where it’s mounted.

Unfortunately, the badge is not maker-marked and Mr. Green remains a mystery to me, although Wisconsin Civil War rosters list a Pvt. Charles A. Green with the 13th Battery who was from Whitewater. The first initial was originally a “G,” too.

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