Rhode Island 325th Anniversary Token

Here's a token from 1961 celebrating the 325th anniversary of Rhode Island. It's value was placed at $.50 in its year of issue, 1961. Not bad looking for being 60 years old.

The reverse has the dates, 1636 to 1961, June 21-July 1, 1961.

 

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Cool. I Have a medallion celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Rhode Island.

 

Cool, interesting that you could only use it till 6 PM...

 

I thought that added a lot to this token. It's something you just don't see very much of, if at all.

 

Definitely! I dont think I've ever seen that on any other tokens/medallions of similar type, makes you wonder why that would be a stipulation for using it...

 

God help you if 6:01 arrives. No 50 cents for you!

 

Allow me to complete the Rhode Island Trifecta! I have this bronze medal commemorating the Bicentennial. I like how they used "RI76" for the year.

 

Why? Because everything done here in Little Rhody is to benefit the politicians and guess who owned the businesses. Speculation was, it was done because the more affluent were about at night and they were enticing women to get out and buy during the day. My wife's cousin was always reminiscing about the good old days and mentioned that the ploy didn't work because only the higher priced stores were involved. In 1961, $.50 was a lot of money. I don't know because I did not live here at the time. I suspect most of the businesses involved were centered around The Providence Arcade, America's first indoor mall.
https://www.arcadeprovidence.com/

 

Having lived in Newport for 3 years, I can only assume that 50 cents back in 1961 couldn't buy you squat. Things were ridiculously priced when I lived there 2004-2007.

 

There were several cities in Oregon that produced similar "Good For's" struck in brass for their celebrations.

 

Newport, the summer residence of the "swells." Everything is overpriced in Newport, especially in the summer.

 

I hated that it took me almost an hour to drive the 3ish miles from my place to where my girlfriend lived at the college thanks to all of the vacation traffic. Such a bunch of uppity jerks in that town.

 

Still are.

 

I was 7 years old and 50 cents would buy me 60 pieces of one cent candy. It would also buy my day about a gallon and a quarter of gasoline. Silver was still in circulation. For a quarter, I could buy a medium fountain drink (soda), a full size candy bar ( larger than they are today) and a comic book and get change back. It's all relative.

 

But could you do that in Rhode Island? Let alone, Newport?

 

That I have no idea. I've been to 42 of the sates but Rhode Island isn't one of them. Hopefully one day.

 

Eh, you aren't missing much.
Besides that the fact that it is the smallest state with the longest name

 

We are no longer The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
We are The State of Rhode Island. If you want to laugh, check this out.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politi...ecomes-first-state-to-change-its-name-n566691

 

Last time I went to traffic court for a speeding ticket it was "The Great State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations". Then I promptly had my ticket dismissed