Description:

Battle of Lexington
[Boston, MA], ca. 1930
Battle of Lexington Elm Tree Souvenir Key, Presented on MA Bay Colony Tercentenary By Boston Mayor To ME Congressman
Relic

A souvenir key fashioned out of a 200-year-old elm tree once standing on the green at Lexington, Massachusetts, site of the April 19, 1775 Battle of Lexington. The souvenir key was presented by Boston Mayor James M. Curley (1874-1958) to his former Congressional colleague and fellow Democrat, Daniel J. McGillicuddy (1859-1936) of Lewiston, Maine. Ca. March 1931. (Boston, Massachusetts.) The souvenir key, labeled with engraved brass plaques on the front and back, measures 10.625" x 3.875" x .5." Its front plaque describes it as the "Key to Gateway of New England, Liberty and American Independence." It is housed in a hinged mahogany case with custom-fitted black plush lining, bearing an engraved brass plaque on the lid: "Massachusetts Bay State Tercentenary / 1630 - 1930 / Presented By / The City of Boston / Hon. James M. Curley, Mayor / This Key was turned from an Elm tree estimated over 200 years old which stood on Lexington Battle Ground near the spot where the 'Shot heard 'round the world' was fired on April 19, 1775." Expected surface wear including scattered scuffs, else very good, 11.875" x 4.375" x 1.875." Accompanied by a bonus item related to the gift-giver, James M. Curley, in the form of a medallion, to be described below.

The Battle of Lexington souvenir key is accompanied by a print-out of a newspaper article from "The Lewiston Daily Sun" (Lewiston, Maine) dated March 20, 1931, entitled "Key from Lexington Battle Ground Elm Presented to Former Congressman McGillicuddy by Mayor Curley…" The article describes the key and its storage case, as well as the circumstances of the visit and key presentation. McGillicuddy had served with Curley in Congress in the early 1910s, when the former represented Maine's 2nd District, and Curley advocated for the constituents of Massachusetts' 10th and 12th Districts. From 1917-1932, McGillicuddy sat on the Democratic National Convention committee. Curley would later serve as Governor of Massachusetts from 1935-1937.

The key in case is accompanied by a gilt-washed bronze medallion designed by John F. Paramino and produced by the Medallic Art Co. The medallion obverse depicts a bas relief bust portrait of Curley, then Governor of Massachusetts. Isolated negligible surface loss, else near fine. 76.2 mm or 3" diameter. 182 grams.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: case: 11.875" x 4.375" x 1.875"
  • Medium: Relic

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May 6, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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