Going back to the Luke AFB token, I'm liking it even more because it offers a clue as to when it was used. Of the two aircraft depicted, the one to the viewer's left appears to be an F-15 which didn't arrive until 1974 and were there until 1995. The aircraft on the right I'm a little less sure of. It looks kind of like an F-16 and they first showed up in 1982. Now before the F-16s were there, Luke used F-4s and that aircraft looks nothing like the one depicted. There were quite a number of F-104s that were there, but they were gone by 1965 and it seems unlikely that a jet that left nine years before the F-15 would be depicted next to it. So...unless I'm missing something this token would have been made sometime after 1982. If there are any opinions, I would like to hear them.
My father-in-law passed down to me a 1969 moon Landing Medallion and it a NASA Gold medal GS 18 were gave . Some that Army loaned out local award and U.S. Army ARCM in Huntsville Alabama
A few years ago, I stumbled across a token, issued by Colonel James W. Curtis (and wife, Kay). And then I found another and then another... They are all interesting to me, and I wonder if there's anyone in this group that knows who he was, and anything about him (anything whatsoever would be very helpful). Thanks so much!
Thanks if it isn't too much trouble, see that was the problem was in the gulf of Tonkon yacht club. Didn't get much exposer to other branches.
@Circus Not a problem at all! Here's the link: http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n18.html#article4 I read and saved the PDF you linked to my computer and thought it was a good read.
@OdedPaz Thus far I've found on TokenCatalog.com a pretty rough looking one that you don't have. I don't know off-hand, but I'm going to keep digging around a little and see what I can come up with. @BRandM has a knack for finding out about individuals, maybe he'll see it and know something?
Could the aircraft on the left be the F-35 replacing the F-16? According to wiki that was suppose to happen at Luke in 2013. But then I supposed the token would not be as toned as it is if that were the case. Sure does look like a F-35 though.
Col. James W. Curtis was retired U.S. Army, who served during World War ll as an infantry officer. He was also a highly accomplished numismatist and author, and was a member of the Chicago Coin Club and the A.N.A. for many years. Curtis was a member of the Board of Governors of the CCC in the 1950s and received many awards for his service, including the Medal of Merit in both 1953 and 1956 and a literary award also in 1956. He served as president of the club from 1952 to 1954. Curtis also distinguished himself at the A.N.A. serving as vice-president in the 1950s. His collecting interests ranged from the coins of Roman Egypt to U.S. pattern coins. He's wrote extensively on both topics and authored the United States Pattern Coin Handbook, and The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt. His collection of pattern coins was auctioned off by Abe Kosoff in February, 1958 Col. Curtis was a prolific issuer of personal pieces. They were struck or counterstamped and appeared on coins, tokens, slugs, ingots and pretty much anything else available. I've seen numerous examples, one even counterstamped on a Bust Dollar. An occasional example shows up on ebay. That's a nice set you have Oded. A fitting tribute to fine veteran and numismatist. Bruce
Bruce - Thank you very very much for the interesting and priceless information!!! I greatly appreciate it! It answers a lot for me and fills in a gap I've had for many years now! You are a wealth of great knowledge, and I greatly appreciate it!
Ya, he nailed that one. I was able to find some of his writings but the websites are blocked for some reason in here.
I can see the resemblance but I'm fairly certain this token was acquired prior to 2013. I actually know guys involved with Luke getting the F-35s and who have been stationed there as far back as 2001. I doubt this token is that new and right now I think it's a product of the 80s. I still have a tough time understanding the need for tokens stateside, especially into the 80s. One member here at CoinTalk I've talked to said tokens were in use a little in the 80s at Cannon AFB and were used by people at the chow hall who wouldn't normally eat there. I'm thinking civilians, dependents, etc. but I should probably ask him for clarification. And just generally speaking another member told me that tokens were in use on Air Force bases by dependents as a sort of sign of belonging; that is, civilians had access to the base but didn't have access to the tokens and could thus pay for things tax free. These tokens really leave me with many questions. The big one is "why?"
Another fascinating discussion gentlemen, kudos! I don't think it's necessary to look for esoteric reasons for the use of tokens at military bases. They would serve all the many purposes of commerce they serve in the civilian population. I've seen that Club Hacienda token before, at a show, and it was dated 1976 on the flip. Could this be anywhere close, or was it just a dealer's guess?
Here's an interesting contemporary counterstamp issued by a coin club. You rarely see stamps struck on Franklin Halves. Usually these modern era numismatic stamps are struck on Kennedy Halves, or less often, on Eisenhower Dollars. Once in a great while you'll see one on a Walker or a Canadian Half Dollar. This is from the Arkansas Numismatic Society and celebrates their 50th anniversary in 1998. I don't know who cut the dies, but the work reminds me of those I've seen on some of the Long Island Coin Club issues. They may have been cut by Tom Marringer, but the workmanship doesn't seem to be up to his exacting standards though. It's likely then that they were cut by someone else. Bruce