A Couple Tokens Lying Around

In my effort to digitize my Air Force trade token collection I grabbed some tokens and my camera and went at it. These tokens deserve a better post than what they're about to get so I'm sorry for that. Anyway, here they are, in their illustrious aluminum and bronze beauty:

 

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Well...my first complaint...I failed to get the backgrounds to mesh and a seam is obvious.

 

Nice tokens. Looks fine to me. No complaints on this end.

How's the weather there?

 

Look good to me too. Wish I could take pictures like that.

 

Compared to my cell pics, you should probably get a Nobel Prize for your photographs.

 

You all are too kind! Thanks for checking them out - they need love too! Not Morgans but much more interesting, if you ask me!

The aluminum tokens all have a similar color that's a little unnatural...well at least they don't have a reflection because they're a pain to shoot!

 

Very nice pics, Jack. I don't see a thing wrong with them. Oh, and by the way, a great selection of tokens as well.

I'm sorry, but I had no luck at Baltimore. Cunningham didn't have anything new that I noticed. I'll keep looking.

Bruce

 

Weather is great! Fired up the grill and had some steaks.

 

Thanks for keeping an eye out for me Bruce! I really appreciate it! Guess it wouldn't be a white whale if they were easy to find...

 

The wind here last night reminded me of Harrogate!

 

Great images. Lots of history behind these tokens. Love the style of the Vandenberg.

 

Some more photos...one day I'll get around to writing about the bases, etc. but today is photos.


The two aluminum from Kotzebue are unlisted in Cunningham, however he does list an aluminum $1 token. I suspect a full issue in aluminum was made but I've never seen any other ones for sale. I've been messing with my technique a bit with aluminum. It's very reflective and I can't stand having a reflection in the coin. Seems I've figured out how to eliminate the reflection however all blemishes are hidden. If you purchased these tokens based off these images you would be disappointed when seeing the scuffs in the fields. These tokens are very well struck though.


I can not for the life of me capture the correct color here. It looks like a light purple in hand.


This was my first "mint state" token I ever bought.

 

And a couple more for today:

 

Nice! The pics look super!

 

Thanks John! Backgrounds need a little work, as does my ability to do aluminum. I was shooting with sunlight. My lamp is U.S. spec but all the transformers were in use. If I were here for another year I would probably look for a U.K. lamp.

 

It's been a couple weeks, took a vacation, and then took some shots last night and thought I would share them here.


AZ120e Davis-Monthan AFB, Aluminum, 37mm, likely used 1961


AZ131 Davis-Monthan AFB, aluminum, unlisted in Cunningham.


CA1100a, Norton AFB, brass, 28mm

GA490b, Robbins AFB, brass, 25mm

ID51a, Mountain Home AFB, aluminum, 35mm, unlisted in Cunningham

ID51b, Mountain Home AFB, aluminum, 35mm, unlisted in Cunningham


IL320b, Scott AFB, brass, 32mm, the ornaments are not described in Cunningham. Sometimes he doesn't list every variety and writes "varieties exist" but that's not the case with this token. I can't remember if I've seen these before without the ornaments.

KS20b, Forbes AFB, brass, 28mm


KS370j, McConnell AFB, aluminum, 35mm, 2000 of these were ordered in June 1969.

 

A couple more I shot last night...


LA90a, Barksdale Field, nickel, 21mm


LA100c, Barksdale Field, brass, 28mm

The two above are among my favorites. Both were made before the Air Force was established and the 5 cent piece is made of nickel. The 50 cent token was my first "expensive" token and my first pre Air Force.

 

Why were these tokens created and used?

 

Essentially they were used for a couple things: in slot machines at the clubs, vending machines, to make change, and as a way for the clubs to extend credit to service members. That's the quick answer.

 

Thanks for the answer, but it still doesn't make sense to me. They could have used regular currency for all of those things.