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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;cwtokenman, post: 47344, member: 2100&quot;]There are 4 metals listed for the 1 mill denomination.</p><p><br /></p><p>S1 - copper (with some nickel and zinc) - R1, two varieties (with and w/o shading lines behind the motto), 1937-1940, mintage 7,500,000.</p><p><br /></p><p>S3 - aluminum -R1, same varieties as S1, 1939-1940, mintage 4,000,000</p><p><br /></p><p>S4 - zinc - R1, same varieties as S1, 1941-1942, mintage 2,200,000</p><p><br /></p><p>S5 - brass - R1, same varieties as S1 plus one where all of the sun&#039;s rays point to the sun (none touch the hills), 1945-1946, mintage 2,100,000</p><p><br /></p><p>All 4 of these tokens were produced by the Osbourne Register Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.</p><p><br /></p><p>Your black token would be the S4. I am guessing that the &quot;silver&quot; one is the S3.</p><p><br /></p><p>The arrival of tax tokens in Arizona happened at a rather fast pace. The bill authorizing the use of tax tokens became law on June 12, 1937. Bids were received from more than a dozen companies by June 24, 1937. The initial order was for 5 million tokens, made of copper, and in the ratio of 4 one mill tokens for each 5 mill token. Distribution of these tokens was scheduled to be done by August 1, 1937.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first tokens were made from a nickel-brass alloy and 95% Arizona copper from the Magma, Miami and Phelps Dodge mines. Token usage started on September 1, 1937. Within three days, the entire supply of tokens was used, resulting in an immediate second order for another 5 million pieces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Merchants, cashiers and patrons were not receptive to this program, complaining about the extra denominations to carry/use, as well as a slowing down of the time required to perform a transaction.</p><p><br /></p><p>During the time of copper token production, Arizona also began production of the aluminum tokens, although the exact reason for the change is not known. Likely the metal was changed because aluminum tokens would have been less expensive to produce. During WWII, aluminum and copper were needed in the war effort, so became difficult to obtain. The metal was then changed to zinc. In 1942, zinc was classified as a scarce war material, so Arizona ceased production of tokens for the remainder of the war. While some states turned to cardboard, celluloid or other materials, Arizona never issued any non-metal tax tokens.</p><p><br /></p><p>After the war, Arizona turned to brass as the metal of choice for their tax tokens. State officials greatly overestimated the demand for these tokens in the post war times. The usage of fractions of a cent became burdensome to those living in this prospering era. Additionally, Arizona law allowed for the tax to be incorporated in the selling price, numbering the days of token usage. A 1952 letter from the State Tax Commission indicates that the token system was no longer being used by the general public, even though the law allowing for them still was on the books as well as a stockpile on hand of millions of tax tokens.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Arizona tax token system was dismantled in 1954.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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