Let's see your exonumia!

Hey that is great to know. Thank you very much. Is your reference book for military tokens or a good for reference?

Rich

 

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It is the reference for military trade tokens. I should have included the title...here's the book:



Nice piece of World War I era exonumia you have there. Get some opinions on how best to preserve that token and keep it safe.

 

Boy ain't that the truth and it isn't only with the military tokens. That is a yard stick for all the tokens. It varies from LCS to the next LCS. And2x2 book or in the bargain bin

 

Yep. I've bought more than a couple rare tokens for cheap because the seller know or didn't have any interested customers. LCSs may be a better place than eBay but even there you can find good stuff. An example, I bought an entire set of Joelton Air Force Station tokens for less than the listed price for just the 5¢ token. In fact, the other four were unlisted. This tells me that when the book was published only the 5¢ was known and seldom available for purchase. Now another example - my white whale, McChord AFB tokens are listed at I think $8 but good luck finding one. I've only ever heard of one that was auctioned and it fetched $200. McCord is a popular issue. I think there may also be lots of collectors in the area.

 

I have a copy somewhere, with a blue cover, still new in shrink wrap, I think.

I should put it on eBay.

 

I didn't know they came in blue! Is it a Curto (spelling may be off)? I've seen some of his books in different colors. I've been wanting to get some of his books.

 

Going to be posting some of the exonumia I bought on my annual Europe trip, just concluded. These I got at a flea market in Helsinki. If you ever get there, there is a great exhibit of coins and Finnish medals at the national museum. Many examples of plate money, for example, for Finnish and Swedish numismatic history is related, as shown by the fact that at least one of the ones I bought is Swedish. (upper right, sorry about the glare, I'll reshoot that one later.

 

Because it's been a while since I nerded out on a trade token, I did just a little more research into this token.

Ft Steward's name was changed in 1922 to Chilkoot Barracks, so you know the token is at least that old. Wikipedia says the 30th was activated first as the 9th but with the outbreak of WWI redesignated as the 30th. Now here things get fuzzy. Information about the unit from the Old Hickory Association says, "The 30th Infantry Division war created in September 1917 at Camp Sevier, SC, when National Guard units from Tennessee, North and South Carolina were placed together to form a division." No mention is made of them spending any time in Alaska before going overseas or after.

According to the National Register of Historic Places, it was Companies of the 3rd Infantry that first inhabbited the Fort, with no mention of who was there after November 1902.

So...Cunningham may have it wrong. Later I'll look at the Camp in SC and see what, if any, tokens are listed there. Maybe we can track this one down. Cunningham does identify this one with another base in California and also listed it as a Maverick in the index.

 

I can't find anything either Jack. And it's really pissing me off.

 

Wait...I see no history of the 30th Infantry prior to 1917!

 

Check AK580 - it's his token, but I don't think Cunningham got it right...at least that's what my scant amount of research has indicated. He was wrong about the token in my profile picture (the one below in case I change it):


See this thread for the story:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/430th-aaf-base-exchange.255913/#post-2026861

 

Haha! I saw what you wrote!

Maybe Georgia? It is his token as AK580, but I'm not so sure they were there.

 

Yeah this is getting weird. A NY regiment in Alaska.

 

I think there was NY 30th Infantry during the U.S Civil War.

 

Look at Camp Sevier under SC.

 

You're right, but they only lasted 3 years...checking my Sutler Paper Money book now...

 

The problem might be whether his token refers to a 30th Infantry division or a regiment?

 

Ahh!That's why he listed Presidio, CA in the index...