Here's a soda water token, honestly I'm not sure what it was used for as it's way too big to be a regular advertising token. Anyways, details grade for the rim damage but please tell me what you think as a grade? Diameter is 46.2mm and thickness is a 1/4", much bigger than a regular John Matthews token, which I'll post pics a bit later!
That doesn't look like a merchant token or even an advertising token. If he is advertising for soda water why doesn't it say so? Seems more likely to be some kind of medal. Nice color. Too bad about the edge dings. I didn't see any wear. The large size also means more stress on the dies and then more costs if a die break. Merchants want cheap tokens that convey their message. If that's a merchant token I'm curious how long he was in business.
I agree but not knowing what it was made for I was limited on what to call it, here's a pic of their regular advertising token, size is 27.9mm! So care to guess on a grade?
I wonder how many of those large ones were actually struck. Or were they struck? It's hard to believe the dies could survive very long with something that big and 1/4 inch thick.
Yeah it's an amazing piece and this John Matthews guy lived a famous life as the soda fountain king, here's another token and some pics about him! His monument is super bada$$! John Matthews, the soda fountain king, and his legacy ----------------------------------------------------- John Matthews (1808–1870) trained in the “art and science of carbonation” before emigrating from England to the U.S., where he became known as the “Soda Fountain King.” In 1832, he patented a countertop device that made carbonated water easy, affordable, and widely available, helping turn soda from a novelty into an everyday pleasure. He also introduced some of the first flavorings, shaping the future of soft drinks as we know them. By the time of his death, more than 500 New York City establishments were using his inventions. His monument at Green-Wood, which was sculpted by Karl Muller, is crowned with gargoyles and a menagerie of animals, reflects that legacy. You can find the Gothic masterpiece at the intersection of Valley and Walnut Avenues (Lot 1345, Section 61), near Valley Water. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grave-of-john-matthew-the-soda-fountain-king
