I picked this up recently for 50 cents. What garnered my attention was the similarity to the Wyoming State Quarter. I cannot find any specific info on this token so therefore I have a question. Which came first? And if this is older than the release date of the quarter, does there appear to be too much of a similarity and possible copyright infringement going on? I'm baffled. Maybe someone can pitch in here. Yes, I know it faces opposite but it's awfully close in it's rendering.
My guess is that is a 1970s era token, back when the Lakota still referred to themselves by the given moniker "Sioux".
Makes sense, as I picked up about a dozen different tokens at the same place and all were dated in the 70's. Thanks!
Heck, I'd collect the thing as an ethnographic '70s era type of collectible playing on stereotypes at the time. Being a part native American I sort of get a kick out of the stereotypes from that time, especially when they were adopted by native Americans. Now many of the nations have casinos, which have created a whole new stereotype.
Looked around on ebay a bit and found some related tribe items. My God, what prices they are asking for not too old fishing/hunting tags. One was over a grand!
Tommy, since it is substantially different, it is doubtful that any court would consider it copyright infringement. However, the SQ design was adopted as a copy of the Wyoming license plate, so you would have to go back to the time when the license plate was designed. Chris
Great find! I've been to Rosebud. Helped put a house together there in 2004. It was an old Army barrack that we refurbished.
