True Dungeons is alive and well. (See. here: http://truedungeon.com/upcoming-events). I first wrote about them in 2009 for The Numismatist. They now have several engagements per year. The top four are from the first two years. They soon went to the heavier, casino-style tokens shown below. Back then, I wrote: ... True Adventures, Ltd., [is] the host company for a live-action, simulated dungeons and dragons-style game in which players navigate a two-story maze of monsters and puzzles. The game tokens represent weapons, armor, magic scrolls, potions, and other artifacts and effects. Originally wooden, the tokens have an embossed obverse and are made of a heavy composite so they feel like an actual gold piece. True Adventures organizes and sells them as “common,” “uncommon,” “rare” and “ultra rare.” Players buy, sell and barter the pieces among themselves to build their inventories, and during the game, they can find hoards of them in the dungeon. When “consumable” coins, such as potions, are activated, they are surrendered to dungeon masters. According to Dave Radtke, True Dungeon’s technical director and volunteer coordinator, the players “have established their own fair-trade minimum standards, and have even attempted to ascribe real-world monetary value to an individual token.” He adds, “We have our own True Dungeon analogue to a 1914-D U.S. cent; it is called the ‘Scroll of Light’, was made in 2003, and most were turnedin when used and then destroyed.” [The Numismatist, October 2009]
Cool thread, here is an old timey gaming counter from Britain. A lightweight and poor quality "evasion" of a 1761 guinea. Sellers pics as I haven't had a chance to take my own yet. Edit: I wrote that this was a fantasy date, but that applies to 1/2 guinea, not full guinea
These French jetons were sometimes used as gaming pieces or mathematical counters, I believe (jetons in general were, anyway), though perhaps the silver ones like this were just collected as art pieces for aristocratic gentlemen's cabinets. Still, this one is graded AU58, so it did see some very slight circulation. Was that on a gaming table? One wonders. France: silver jeton of Louis XV, "Aurora in cloud chariot", undated (ca. 1740) (PCGS population 1- the only example certified as of 5/16/18). Obverse: LUD. XV. REX CHRISTIANISS, bust of Louis XV right. Reverse: LATE.CVNCTA.PROFVNDIT., female deity or personification Aurora(?) in biga (two-horse chariot) galloping right through clouds, holding torch or candle. Feuardent-13203, PCGS AU58, cert. #32657468. Ex-Atlas Numismatics, 10/13/2015.
Very well could be from contemporary use. Personally I feel like not many of these pieces make it to modern times without getting mixed up in loose lots with other coins and similar items and that causes the minor wear. Gorgeous jetton by the way
Alas, 'tis one of my "bygones" rather than part of my current Eclectic Box lineup. Back when I was sticking to a limit of 20 pieces in my box, I let an awful lot of nice stuff go.
The disciplined approach is something more people, myself included, should probably be going by as well. I've tried to mentally boil it down, but can never get below a box of about 50
Unfortunately i only kept one of the many ive had over the years. Wish i had a mulligan. The higher denominatons $20+ are scarce, desirable and very collectible. This particular piece is called a chaser strike-> these can be distinguished by the different colored capsules. (Not clear) They are the rarest and this is the ONLY one ive ever had. $40 Caesars .999 silver (1.75 oz) You cant tell by the photo because i removed the top portion before imaging. Its actually in a yellow capsule
I came across this Vintage $5 Cactus Pete's chip in a delinquent locker auction along with the 14k Unicorn.
I used to keep one on my Holey Gold Hat, even though it wasn't gold. Had a 1789 Spade half-guinea on there, too. That one was the real deal. We have a cat named Cactus Pete. He can shoot lasers out of his eyes.
Gaming tokens feature in my military trade token collection. Sadly many are not featured in in his two volume work however John Kallman put together a nice document about them. I have more than I have pictures of and some even from overseas bases. When my camera battery arrives I'll photo them and if this thread is still going I'll post them here. First up are a couple gaming tokens from the closed Air Force Station Murphy Dome which was in Alaska. AK510b, Alaska, Murphy Dome AFS, plastic, blue, 39mm AK510c, Alaska, Murphy Dome AFS, plastic, red, 39mm A few images of Murphy Dome I've found on the internet: Murphy Dome Air Force Station, Alaska became operational in 1951 and began as a Ground-Control Intercept and warning station that would direct interceptor aircraft to invading forces. It was so cold every building was connected together and the Airmen were allowed to wear their summer uniforms indoors. Over the years it's mission changed including being a NORAD radar site and today there still exists an unmanned long range radar site.
Hopefully I don't kill this thread. Up next are a few from McGuire Air Force Base. These tokens, like the above from Murphy Dome, were cataloged by Cunningham and are included in his Domestic volume. McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; clay, white, NJ120a, Cunningham Vol 1 pg 186 McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; clay, red, NJ120d, Cunningham Vol 1 pg 186 McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; clay, red, NJ120d, Cunningham Vol 1 pg 186 Yep I ended up with duplicates. In order to get the white chip, which seems to come up less frequently on eBay than the red, I had to buy both. Asked the seller if they would consider separating the lot. Guess how that panned out? If someone contacted me expressing a genuine interest and why they would want it, I would send the duplicate to someone. However, if you want a free chip to flip on eBay, that is at best worth $10, go ahead and pound sand. Only collectors. McGuire Air Force Base is no longer...now it's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. A bit on joint basing first. Joint basing was an intitiatve to combine geographically close military installations that shared similar functions in an effort to save money. Sounds good on paper but these savings have never been realized and it's only cost more money. I digress though! McGuire Air Force Base, like all Air Force Bases, takes it name from a fallen aviator. In this case, it honors Thomas B. McGuire, the second highest scoring ace of World War II and Medal of Honor recipient. JBMDL is still active! Ignoring the Army (Fort Dix) and Navy (Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst) components, McGuire is flying CH-53 helicopters, KC-10 tankers, an Air Guard KC-135 tankers, and C-17 cargo aircraft.
