I picked this token up for a buck, and I don't know much about it other then it's cataloged as 255/390. A few questions I have is how much is it worth, where and when (I think 1863, but not sure) was it minted, was it from the confederate or union side, and any extra info would be awesome! Thanks! Pics: Please let me know, Thanks!
I'm on travel and don't have any reference material handy. I would need to look this one up to venture a guess on value. Too bad it's holed; that doesn't help. As far as "where" it was minted...the term "Knickerbocker" is a reference to New York...specifically, Manhatten (e.g. New York Knicks "Knickerbockers" basketball team)...so I guess it was likely minted close to there, but I don't know for sure. I would love to own one without the hole. I really like the design. :thumb:
New York is correct. Made because of the lack of coins. Folks were holding on to gold, silver and copper. They go for a few bucks on Ebay without the hole. Cool token with quite a history.
Actually the id is 255/390a. The lower case "a" is needed for the metal designator. This is an R1 rarity token, meaning that over 5000 of them are known to exist, and are considered to be very common. I would say without the hole it would go for $10-15 on ebay, and in the $5-10 range with the hole, depending if it were a good day or not. From Fulds' Patriotic CWT book: Both of these dies are ascribed to William H. Bridgens, whose shop was located at 189 William Street, New York City, NY (lower Manhattan). His tokens circulated mostly in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area, but he also had a few customers as far away as Ohio and Illinois. Most of his tokens are common and easily available in high grades. Some of his tokens were also struck on off metals. Bridgens tokens were generally struck on thin, slightly broader than standard planchets, frequently struck off center and from misaligned dies. His dies featured both pro-Union and "Copperhead" themes.
