Featured A Token with a (HI)STORY . . . . . .

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by ZoidMeister, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

    Think back to when you were a child. Perhaps around the age of 6 or 7. The world was a very different place, right? Times were simpler, you had no cares in the world, lifelong friends were made – and lost. What memories still stick with you after ALL THOSE YEARS . . . . . . ?

    Maybe you have fond memories of your parents, uncles, or aunts taking you fishing, hunting, or to a theme park? Maybe as a young child you attended a county fair, a state fair, or a festival of some kind?

    I know my parents took my sisters and myself to many of these. Living in central Wisconsin on the Mississippi River during the early 1960’s, there was always SOMETHING, some event to attend. Octoberfest, Fishing Contests, County and State Fairs, we did them all . . . . or at least it seemed that way.

    One festival that really stuck out in my 7 year old mind was the Steam Engine Days Festival held in Strum Wisconsin. I mean, what’s not to like? Big steel tractors and engines, polyphonic steam whistles, food, and buxom festival girls all vying to be crowned Strum Steam Queen . . . . . it was every boy’s childhood fantasy . . . . .

    All those memories would have been locked away in my quickly decaying gray matter, EXCEPT for one chance viewing on fleaBay. Perusing the exonumia and token listings, I happened across this little token. Fairly well preserved for its age, better than myself I might add.

    I was intrigued by my first glance of the obverse. I clicked over to the reverse image and WAIT . . . . August of 1965??? My family lived in Prairie du Chien Wisconsin between 1962 and 1972.

    I was in Wisconsin in 1965. My parents took me to a Steam Engine Days Festival in 1965. There was only ONE Steam Engine Days Festival being held in middle Wisconsin that year, it was in Strum, and it was only a couple hours from where we lived.

    OMG, could it be? Could this token, this little disk . . . . was it made and sold at the same festival that is so keenly etched into my childhood memories! What are the chances?

    I purchased it immediately and it arrived to me earlier this week. It’s amazing how one little token, one little $6.50 purchase (including shipping), could bring back such joyful memories, so vividly, of a bygone era in time.

    What tokens, medals, or other exonumia have you found and acquired that bring back similar memories of your childhood? Post them up, with their HISTORY for all to enjoy.

    Z

    @dwhiz , this post is for you . . . . .




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    Last edited: Apr 3, 2021
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  3. $ignofthedollar

    $ignofthedollar Well-Known Member

    Born and raised in Port Huron Michigan we had the Blue water festival every year in July. it was a big thing for me back then.
    IMG_20210402_0923467_rewind-17380687.jpg IMG_20210402_0923597_rewind-17380735.jpg
     
  4. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Yes, that's a beauty, you did well and I know the joy well! :D I'll have to post pics another time as I'm having pic issues!
     
  5. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    @ZoidMeister Great token and awesome story. You did right by catching it when you did. I have a lot of those types of mementoes. I don't know if I have pics because I have been giving my stuff out to the kids, grand kids and great grand kids. There are 6, 13 and 21 and I want to make sure they all get some little memento of the family.
     
  6. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

    @ZoidMeister
    Mighty nice
    Thank you
     
    ZoidMeister likes this.
  7. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC Supporter

    You guys had a childhood?

    really though, I left all my exonumia at home but I have a few that come to my mind.

    2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup elongated cent. I have been to Boston plenty of times but those days with my parents at the TD garden when I was little will always be special.

    Another is a medal my younger brother got from a secret service member. The medal had the dates of all the elections this man was in the service for. It started sometime in the 70s. It was gotten in 2013 or so, and the 2012 election is on it. It was really interesting. I was in DC because I got nominated for a leadership summit! I was so greatful to my teacher for nominating me. Turns out... 3 teachers nominated me, not knowing the others were doing the same! It was an incredible experience, and I would have gone on more trips if it wasn't for the bullying I endured in elementary school that got me sent to Catholic school.

    Funny thing, in middle school I got nominated for 2 OTHER programs. It was really nuts, and these leadership conferences really began my political life.


    I also got a 'presidential award' for being in the top 2 percent of students in Maine in elementary school. I got a letter with former president Obama's signature :)meh:) and a little gilded pin that said I was top 2 percent.

    I may think of more.
     
  8. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC Supporter

    photo of me in front of the White House, screenshot from my personal Instagram.
    Pic from September 2013, with my September 2020 update! Will never forget how exciting it was for myself, who read so many books especially on President Lincoln and the early Republican party. I am all sentimental now, thanks Z Screen Shot 2021-04-02 at 2.25.52 PM.png
     
  9. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Very cool. I love when these Coins/tokens we love spark up childhood memories.

    My grandad was mayor of a one horse town called Plains Texas when I was a kid. Plains was more backwoods than Mayberry. Every Tuesday evening the fire station would sound the alarm. It was a signal for all the old fellows to meet at the fire station to play checkers. One of my fondest childhood memories.

    Grandad always carried one of those lucky pennies. The encased cents we see all the time. Every time somebody posts one of those I think of grandad and the Tuesday evening “checkers” alarm. Very fond memory for me.
     
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  10. Numiser

    Numiser Well-Known Member

    Where I used to live one of the fairs every year had a huge section for small steam engine tools and contraptions. I always made sure I went to visit the steam engine display. It's a lot of fun.
     
  11. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

  12. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I remember when I was very young my uncle had a Stanly Steamer automobile and an electric car from the early part of the 20th Century. Really neat machines.
     
  13. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC Supporter

    Our town used to have those big street vacuums built into the trucks. With the long hose they throw through your window. Seems absurd now but it really is interesting.
     
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