Hi all, Flea Market purchase 6-17-2017 Made of plastic This is a Missouri Sales Tax token with the number 1. Same on both sides I saw this same token at 2 different tables, one seller had it for $20 dollars and the one I purchased it from sold it for $1.00
The Missouri examples were the last used, their earlier tokens were made of aluminum or zinc - the plastic ones were used up until their usage was terminated ca 1962 or so.
The thread below will give links to tax token organizations. Lots of info there. Cal https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1-5-cent-colorado-sales-tax-token.296697/#post-2745348
Ironically for all practical purposes they were coins just like our own wholly worthless penny and nickel. They had no value by themselves so people just accumulated them and then made small purchases with a handful. Ten of the five mill tokens would buy a soda just like twenty nickels today can do the same. The Secret Service was unamused that these were being widely used as coins and issued cease and desist orders to the states and counties which used them starting in 1935. In other words these are widely ignored US coins. Most are very tough to scarce in uncirculated condition and Gems are nearly universally nonexistent.
There are very few "rare" or "scarce" tax tokens but this is based on current demand. There are lots of these that have surviving numbers in only the thousands and some of the ration tokens (not the same thing) exist only in the dozens or hundreds. The ration tokens were not often used as money but were bought and sold and are widely collected with the tax coins.
Funny what you remember. In the 70’s when I was a kid, I used to search the 10 cent and 25 cent junk boxes at the local dealers and shows. Things you always saw were plastic and metal sales tax tokens, the cardboard (fiber?) OPA points , and Chinese cash coins. BTW: yours looks nice. Based on the availability years ago, I don’t think they are worth $20, but you can’t go wrong for a buck
I found this in the webpage I posted in this thread. Quote "Tax tokens were issued in a variety of materials, including cardboard, brass, bronze, aluminum, pressed cotton fiber, and plastic." Closed quote
My father was not a coin collector but he saved these sales tax tokens in the 1930's. US State sales tax tokens
Sales tax tokens can be attributed using the book “United States Sales Tax Tokens and Stamps”, available at Wizard Supplies, among others for about $20. The token values are listed at a website by googling “State sales tax token catalog and encyclopedia”. Sorry about this cryptic description, but that’s what works for me.
You should have bought it from the one guy for $1 and sold it to the other guy for $10. He would have loved to have a 100% markup.lol
That's pretty neat I've never seen them in plastic! Here is the one from my grandpa's collection. Edit: This is a receipt and not a token but still similar