Hello Everyone, Sorry I posted in this section, but I could not find one for tokens and didn't want to be wrong in posting it in the other sections (errors, coin roll hunting, etc.). I came across this token yesterday and tried to Google it with no luck. I also tried checking on several sites I've been shown, and on Ebay with no luck. It feels very light and seems to be made of aluminum. It is about 28.18mm in diameter and 1.58mm thick. On one side it says GOOD FOR 25 (cent symbol) IN TRADE. On the other side it says POST EXCHANGE ENG'R'S. If anyone can identify it or direct me to a good source to identify tokens I would appreciate it very much. Thanks in advance for your help
Hello Knightly, Very keen eye, thank you. I didn't even think to imagine it was a propeller. That's one step in the right direction for it. Thank you very much.
Condor I would also ask Paul about WWII Internment camps coins.I recall seeing one that looked a lot like that before.
What I find interesting is the 'rating' design used. It has a single prop a/c type one, which reminds me of wwII ratings for military --- as well as a four-blade prop (more a ship's type) superimposed on the middle of the a/c one. Normally, in looking at machinist type or engine room ratings, especially in the navy, seems to use a three-blade prop as the standard design for the ship type prop in a ratings badge, not a four-blade one. I am postulating that IF the abbreviation for engineers rather than putting a post name on here (meaning a wider-usage type token) AND the ratings insignia was important to the issue of token, then it possibly would be more likely to represent an issue to an 'outside' group of people on the military installation that were, by necessity, needing to use the post exchange for purchasing items (usually prohibited unless it is the only source of a store), and that this would enable the cashier to not only recognise that it was a special token, but perhaps would limit the use on the base/post (as to objects purchased or services used). Perhaps this outside group was a civilian population. Right now this is speculation, but certainly the four-blade prop in the center of the design is different than many small prop insignia used.
"Ya, all" are reading too much into that propeller. It's an ornamental device seen on other tokens such as Wilkes-Barre Coin Club tokens. More to follow.
Cunningham's index says that a token Post Exchange Engineers was issued at Camp Humphries VA. It's not the abbrevated version as is your token but the least of your problems. There is no Camp Humphries listed in the domestic issues book. There is a Camp Humphrey in S. Korea but your token is not listed there either. More to follow
There is however a Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County VA. that was formally known as Camp A. A Humphreys during WWl. And the good news may be that Fort Belvoir has engineering units there, including an engineering school and engineering research facility. More to follow
You may be on to something, longnine.... there was a Camp Humphreys in VA, and they did have engineers there. (Army Corps of Engineers). And other Camps in WWI also had engineers. So I will revise my postulation and make it a possibility that this is from some US camp in WWI where there were engineers being trained for the war. (see poster). It could be Camp Humphreys or it could be another camp.
Well, it could be an ornamental device, but why not put up some from the W-B Coin Club so it can be compared.
Op I think you should follow Condors advice and contact Paul Cunningham. I met him at the F.U.N show in 2005 and bought a dozen Vietnam war tokens from him. He's a very cordial man and I think will be glad to help. There also appears to be a discrepancy with his book that I'm sure he would want to be aware of. Google Cunningham Exonumia. His email will be at t the bottom of the page.
Sorry I had to break this up into parts but more than a few sentences and my lesswire provider starts puking.
I would say that the "propeller" is actually a flower with a "thing-a-ma-jig" (technical term) on either side. Here is one of mine from a Saloon and later Bowling Alley in Wisconsin.
Not with this cell I can't. But the one shown in OP's is different. The one on Wilkes-Barre and other tokens is more of dot with the blades not touching the dot. But I still think it's ornamental.
Hello everyone, So sorry for the late reply, but thank you so much for all of your great informative posts. Conder101, how would I get in contact with Paul Cunningham? Is he a forum member? Kasia, I think you're right as far as it having a military history. I looked on Ebay and found this token (below). It is about the same size (1 inch, this token is 1.195 inches), and it has a rim that is smooth, and small dots going all around the token. The small dots on this token look connected to each other. The Maryland token has 98 dots encircling it, and there are 97 dots on this token. I may have miscounted, but am pretty sure I counted it right. (I like your picture, I'm a cat lover too.) Maryland Cocktail Token pictures courtesy of Ebay auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-MARYLAND-COCKTAIL-LOUNGE-Aluminum-Trade-Token-Good-for-25-Cents-Drinks-/330925579483?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0cb39cdb TravIntiques, thanks for your photo for comparison. The dots don't appear connected on the token in your photo. I do think now that maybe a single company manufactured all these tokens because of the similarities? longline009, I'll take your advice (and Condor101's) and try and contact Mr. Cunningham if someone would be so kind to point me in the right direction as to how I can contact him. Thank you all again. This is getting interesting!
ok due to its pocked up surface ,im going to ask several questions.. have you weighted it? have you tested it???
Hello all, So sorry for the late reply. I've been busy, sick, all kinds of things one after another. longnine009 Thank you very much for Mr. Cunningham's contact information. I shall send him an email when I get the chance to. Thank you again. kaosleeroy108 Hello, I don't understand what you meant by testing it, but I just weighed it and it is 2.09 grams (0.735 oz). I hope this helps. Thank you all again.
I think most likely Paul Cunningham will be able clarify what you have. If not, that's just how it is with tokens. Sometimes info is easy to find sometimes it's difficult. David Bowers has a large cent counter-stamp collection he bought from Maurice Gould in the 1950's with some pieces still un-identified.
