Let's see your exonumia!

Well I got some more photos taken this morning that I would like to share:


CA600a, brass, 23mm. March Field 1918-1947.


CA600b, brass, 19mm.


CA600d, brass, 29mm.


CA850a, brass, 22mm, gift from @BRandM


MI220, K.I. Sawyer AFB, brass, 35mm


WY7270a, brass, 21mm, used 1930-1945.


PI1500c, brass, 21mm, gift from @BRandM . John Hay AB was a vacation spot in the Philippines for service members and the Air Force operated a radio station there for some time.


VN5330a, Tan Son Nhut AB, brass, 21mm, gift from @BRandM


VN5560a, Tri Bac Station, brass, 21mm, gift from @BRandM

I've been spending some time researching the various tokens and one day I'll get around to making some write-ups. After the photos though. Then maybe I'll make a website...

 

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Nice looking tokens Jack!

 

Great stuff jack and great photos!

 

great deal, nice.

 

Those March Field tokens are exceptionally well done compared to many others, Jack. They have a special quality look to them. They remind me more of a nice merchant token rather than a military piece.

Did you ever consider working on an unofficial "supplement" to Cunningham's work? Just a list of examples that he doesn't include. You might want to share it with others who collect military exonumia. Nothing official of course, just for a ready reference.

Bruce

 

Ya, I thought the March tokens were nice too. I like how the inner field is textured. Whoever was selling them (eBay) didn't know what they had because I got them very inexpensively and what I would consider a deal. I also believe the seller had multiple sets so maybe he just didn't care and wanted to move them.

As far as a supplement, I have actually. My token list is set up in such a way that easily identifies new or corrected information and I've been thinking about making a website to share my collection and the new information. I've looked into website creation a little but I need to get all the tokens photographed. While I've dented the numbers...Think there are still some 200+ that need shot! And I haven't figured out a good, reliable way to photo aluminum.

 

Are there other denominations of March tokens, Jack? It would seem likely that there would be at least a 25 cent and $1.00 one.

The website idea seems like a good one. It would be a valuable resource for other collectors. If you decide to go that route, I wish you the best of luck.

Bruce

 

For this issue there is a 25 cent, 32mm, scalloped. There are also restrikes that are uniface in 19 & 24mm round tokens.

 

I'm on standby all night so I'm working on token photos! (Standby sucks because I'm covering two shifts but...whatever. I'm getting paid pretty good to do it so...)

Anyway, I really want to get better at aluminum and I think I'm learning or at least getting some good practice in. This first post is a set of tokens from Craig AFB, Alabama. These are all unlisted in Cunningham and I've seen eBay sellers trying to get $140+ for them! Well those lots continue to go unsold as far as I can tell. Very much not worth it in my opinion. I got the lot of them for less than $7 so take that gougers.


AL31a, aluminum, 22mm, unlisted. Notice the repunched "M"


AL31b, aluminum, 17mm, unlisted. The photo makes it look a little grungier than it is, but it still is.


AL31c, aluminum, 26mm, unlisted.


AL31d, aluminum, 33mm, unlisted.

There's only one more from my Craig AFB collection that needs to be photographed, but that can wait till later.

 

Next up I took some pictures from my Alaska bases that remained to be photographed. I believe all of these were from the same retiring collector. Unfortunately his children had no interest in them and he was selling off his collection. Well, they got a good home! I bought a bunch of tokens from him last year.


AK120a, aluminum, 35mm


AK210, aluminum,32mm


AK240i, aluminum, 34mm, unlisted "VALID THRU MAY '89" variety


AK250b, aluminum, 22mm


AK250c, aluminum, 25mm


AK250d, aluminum, 28mm


AK250f, aluminum, 35mm

This puts me at 160 photos taken that I'm at least ok with! Only 206 to go!

 

I just shot 20 coins and I'm not happy with any of them! Well, this one is ok but because of it's shape you can see part of what I use to take the photo. I'm limited with equipment or skill so it stays for now. Actually this token is a transportation token but it made it into Cunningham so here it is:


AK430, nickel, 16mm.

Does anyone know if this token is in the Transportation token reference? It's Atwood, isn't it? Well, if it is listed, does anyone have the number for my notes?

 

This medal at one time when purchased would get you a lifetime admission on the ship. I have one that still in the plastic pouch it came in. This ship has a lot of history and I believe it is still commissioned in the Navy.

 

I hope you all don't mind me bombing this thread with all my tokens. At least it's colorful!

Here are more.
AK480, Murphy Dome Air Force Station (AFS), plastic, 32mm


AK500c, aluminum, 26mm


AK500e, aluminum, 26mm


AK500f, aluminum, 32mm

I speculate that the tokens at Murphy Dome AFS and Shemya AFS were so colorful because the people stationed there lived in a fully enclosed compound, because it was so cold. They were living in Alaska, in the far North. Here are some images of Murphy Dome AFS

 

Nice ones Jack; especially those stylish 5's on the Craigs.

 

Got this as part of a group from a new dealer in my home town. Got a Civil War token, two books, and this "Good For" die for a great price from a local dealer. What more could a coin guy ask for? I'm excited to attribute this die to a maker and/or token. Seller's pics.

 

Hey, that die is cool! I hope you can attribute it. I have a couple possible tokens that have that reverse, but no images and no time to dig them out right now. If I find anything I'll let you know.

 

I'm going to post the rest of my photos from last night...in three posts!

Some from Shemya AFS - think I have just one more to photo that didn't make the cut.


This is whhy it's important to catalog you coins and check it before you make purchases!

 

Here we have Wildwood AFS. Cunningham lists no mintages for 5c, but all other tokens read MW 12/68, 500 for each one. Wildwood Army Station was created in 1951, completed in 1953 and turned over to the Air Force in 1965 as an AFS. In 1972 it was turned over to the native Alaskans when they considered using it as a boarding school but became a correctional facility instead. The seller accidently sent me two 5 cent tokens. I offered to send it back but they told me to keep it. Sure!

 

Last up is from Moron AB, Spain. I was actually "deployed" there last year and I don't think that base has changed much since it was built in the 50s. Very small, old buildings, heck the Marines had a larger presence there than the Air Force did. Looks like the Air Force and civilian contractors keep the base running and the Marines have a larger flying presence there today. We were supporting allied nations with aerial refueling missions, the Marines used it as a staging area, and the base serves as a stop-over for aircraft going in and out of Europe/Middle East.




Oh, these were purchased from John Kalman.

 

I always liked Spain.