I have built up a number of various tokens and medals. I'm looking for information on these and I wonder what a good starting point is. I've got everything from arcade tokens, casino chips, bridge tokens, trade tokens, car wash tokens, etc, etc. Is there a good book or website that has general information on tokens? Or do I need to get specific books for each type? Thanks,
There are no good general references unless you just don't have a clue what you have and then there is one that covers everything quite well. There are numerous specific reference including a three volume catalog for transportation tokens, another for car wash, one for amusement tokens, and at least 35 for the various state good for tokens. There are comprehensive lists for Mardi Gras doubloons (these are actually old for sale lists) and a few others. I'll try to list some later in more detail if no one else jumps on this.
Thanks, that would be great if you could list some - including the general one that covers everything. I really don't have a clue what some of them are, and I just need something to start with. I also have some tax tokens, elongated cents, foreign play money, some with "Shell" (I think the gas station) written on the reverse, some with presidential info on them, a (fake) Confederate coin. I think I even have some pickers checks, and coal scrip. It really is a hodge-podge of stuff. Any assistance would be much appriciated.
This is difficult, because a lot of the tokens etc you have are issued in different eras and if they are covered in catalogs they are all different catalogs. I know there are catalogs on Hard Times tokens, Civil War Tokens, then 19th century tokens etc. And even looking at these you might have something which is not in the catalog.
This is something I too am trying to find info on, I am after info on UK tokens and UK Royal Commems (Medals/Medalions) to date no luck De Orc
OK. But this is going to be a lot of typing (which I hate) so I'll start slowly and see if anyone else lists some. The best general reference is "Tokens and Medals" by Alpert-Elman- 1991. It will list the general category of about 99% of what you see. Don't take prices too seriously since they can be all over. Scarce issues can bring huge premiums and common issues can sometimes be acquired for almost nothing. This reference shouldn't be overly difficult to locate. For transportation tokens there's little alternative to the three volume "The Atwood-Coffee Catalog-1983. The first volume is all you need to identify US and Canadian tokens. Prices are again a little iffy but can be useful if adjusted. Common tokens wholesale at about 3c and there are perhaps 100 of these. Scarcer tokens start at catalog (15c usually) and go up to $1. Very scarce tokens 50c and up catalog) are usually worth about double catalog dependent on state) Rare tokens go from triple catalog to about $500 dependent on demand and state. If you collect varieties you'll need vol 2 and 3. Vol 2 lists many of the mintages and is interesting. If you join the AVA these catalogs will be much cheaper and this is a fun organization.
Thanks CK as for the prices not realy interested in that aspect, more the what n why of the token, i do have a few US ones so it will prove useful there :thumb: De Orc :bow:
References on line.... It is 1,200 Pages This 4th edition of the Numismatic Literary Guild's award winner features updated, revised pricing, hundreds of new token listings, and detailed photographs. Author Russell Rulau, one of the most respected medal and token authorities in the world, explores tokens from colonial days to the dawn of the 20th Century. Includes expanded coverage of post-Civil War tokens, as well as Civil War cardboard chits. Collectors, dealers and students alike will need the new edition of this all-time best-selling token catalog, which combines Early American, Hard Times, Merchant, Civil War, Trade and Gay Nineties pieces into a one-volume token library. You might also want to do some searches There are lots of books listed if you type in "tokens catalog" in the subject/genre field. You will even find the aforementioned book cheaper than above. Click on the links in blue. Happy Hunting!!!
This is a good reference but will list very few of the types of tokens in the described accumulation. Old tokens tend to get separated from newer ones. Rulau also wrote US trade tokens 1866-1889 (1983). There's "A Catalog of Telephone Tokens of the World" Targonsky (1968). These are small bronze nickel sized discs issued in the early part of the last century for use in telephones. They have slots and grooves with very little lettering which is usually incuse. Most were issued in Illinois. This book will prove very elusive. On the same subject is Frank Earl's "Slotted, Grooved, and Punched" 1979. This will be nearly as elusive as Targonsky. There are various Franklin Mint catalogs. These can be very helpful even if you don't collect this material. They can be found at yard sales and book stores. "Video Arcade, Pinball, Slot Machine, and Other Amusement Tokens Of North America" is a good book. Alpert- Smith (1984). This shouldn't be too hard to find.
"Automobile Washing Tokens" Ford- Coffee (1986). Excellent. comprehensive. Probably easily found. The CTD Pocket Guide Canadian Trade Dollars" (various editions) & The Handbook of United States Municipal Trade Currency" (various editions) Jean Guy Cote. These are pretty good as a listing but there are numerous issues not listed in these. "Medals of the United States Mint" (1977) R. W. Julian. It goes only to 1892 and is difficult to use the first time. With practice you'll find it has a huge amount of information.
If you have an interest in tokens and medals you are well advised to join the AVA and The Token and Medal Society. There are several other groups which can be very beneficial as well. You'll find sources for these items at realistic prices and other interested collectors. Some are very friendly to newbies and will bend over backward to help you. The ATTS (tax tokens) used to give away complete sets of the OPA ration tokens to members though this may not happen any more since some of these are too rare even for their limited membership. Many collectors of this material like to trade so large sets can be assembled very cheaply with a lot of patience and work. Good-fors are a vast area and there are catalogs for many states. Michigan is cataloged by Cunningham in a 1977? work with several supplements. These are a fascinating area but got a lot more expensive 10 years ago and relatively few tokens are available for less than $1 anymore. With the tens of thousands made this can get expensive. Bayou Coins used to print lists of Mardi Gras doubloons. These will probably be difficult to find but watch collector estates and the like. I believe this company is defunct but you might check it out. The Shell tokens you list were issued in this country back in 1969. The aluminum versions appear in four varieties with one having an Instant Winner reverse. Several of these are very rare, most of the rest are very common. There is no reference for them but two varieties are listed in one of the Franklin Mint catalogs. There was a reference in the works for play money about eight years back but I don't know if it was ever printed. There is a small tax token catalog thart should be available from the ATTS. There's a book for World's Fair medals. There are lists available for several of the smaller series. These are often printed by TAMS and are sent free to members. These include things like Hickey Bros tokens and dairy tokens. There's also the "So Called Dollars" book by Hibbler Kappen 1963. This book is quite common but in high demand so it might get expensive. It lists medals made since the 1860's but is somewhat deficient on later issues.
This is kind of what I was afraid of - A different book for each kind of token. It seems like tokens and medals is even more infinite than coins. I think I'll start with the standard catalog. Is there one for 1901-present? Thanks everyone, for your info.
The first one mentioned will include most of what you have. I first got into world coins because there just weren't enough US coins. Eventually I ran out of world coins (back to 1800 anyway) and got into exonumia. I'll never be able to learn much about these so I'll be safe forever.
They are about the neatest tokens I've ever seen....I collect them somewhat...I have at least 1 from each of the 12 places that have them...I think I have something like a total of 70+....some with neat error...like rotations and etc....CWtokenman knows tons about them....maybe he will be by to help sometime. Speedy
Tax tokens are really coins. They were issued for circulation by an official authority and were used as money. The secret service made the states quit using them for just this reason. Not only are there lots of types but many varieties. There were also several issued by Illinois counties and towns as well as paper issued in Ohio. Many of them of surprisingly difficult to find in unc and more are scarce in gem.
Hey Cladking....I think you are messing up states....OH wasn't one of the 12 states that had Tax Tokens....at least not in anything I've read...and I've never seen them... Now MO had paper tax tokens... Speedy
No, Ohio never had metal tax tokens but they had a long line of paper tax receipts which were used right into the 1960's. I've never collected these but there are probably dozens of these if not hundreds.
I left Ohio in 1943, but I remember being shocked that our paper sales tax certificates were valueless in California. The memory may be going, but as I recall they were square yellow thingees. Edited to add, from a current EBay auction:
Cool!...I guess the reason I've never seen them is because I've serached for tokens...and not receipts... Speedy
