I have had this token since the 1960's when I found it in a coin dealer's bin. Obverse: LUCKY TILLICUM / REBUILD WITH ROOSEVELT Reverse: PROSPERITY / 1933 / FOLLOW THE ROOSEVELT TRAIL It appears to be "German Silver" or silver-plated copper, is 27mm, and is somewhat worn. It was probably issued as a political token for the 1932 US presidential election. Another Lucky Tillicum! Well, he won the election and I just received this token: Obverse: LUCKY TILLICUM / REBUILD WITH ROOSEVELT Reverse: A CENTURY OF PROGRESS / 1933 / CHICAGO / FOLLOW THE ROOSEVELT TRAIL Issued for the 1933 Chicago Exposition or World's Fair which was named "A Century of Progress". Now the big question is: What is a "Tillicum"? "Lucky Tillicum" was a popular expression at one time. The New York Times had a short article on the original token, dated October 7, 1932: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Lucky Tillicum' Pocket Pieces To Aid the Roosevelt Campaign Special to the New York Times: The word is from the Indian, signifying good luck. The slogan, it was said, was fashioned by Colonel Edward M. House. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colonel House was President Wilson's number one assistant.
Tillicum means "a friend" (informally)--in the US and Canada. In Chinook it means kin, especially as distinguished from chiefs. So my guess is it would mean "Lucky Friend". Great piece!
This thread was mentioned today in The E-Sylum, an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society. The E-Sylum issue is Volume 24, Number 42, October 17, 2021 and can be found at: https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/club_nbs_esylum_v24n42.html For fans of "Lucky Tillicums" I have added this one: Franklin D. Roosevelt "Lucky Tillicum" Coin - US Capitol and Dirigible Brass, 32 mm, 12.86 gm The dirigible is probably the US Navy rigid airship USS Akron which was built by the Goodyear-Zeppelin company and launched in 1931.
This is not a "lucky tillicum" piece, but it's from the same election campaign. The piece piece is concave / convex with the depression side "in the hole." Here is another token from the 1932 campaign. Repealing Prohibition was big issue in 1932.
