Spiel, Marke Tokens, Kettle Tokens. Gaming Tokens and Gold Rush Tokens information inside

coinsarefun

5/1/2021 I once again edited the title to accurately describe what I'm trying to show and include in this section.
There are literally thousands of them out there but I wanted to devote my time and learning the ones that are semi know, available and a nice depiction of our American money.
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6/16/2019 Updated again for a Fantastic online reference for such tokens
** ONLINE TAMS**
This covers so many different California and other counter tokens. I highly recommend this to anyone that might consider
collecting these...or already does
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In my never ending search for nice, semi rare higher grade and interesting tokens it has taken me
into the world of Spiel Marke gaming tokens. The first one is the newest pickup.....
.......I really haven't seen many $20 double eagle size's around and quite happy when it arrived.
Having a difficult time imaging as it is very reflective and therefore shows a combination of die scratches
and regular scratches.The reverse exhibits some rather large die cracks.
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All comments welcome.
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The following 2 below are common but very difficult in uncirculated. Picked up these at the end of last year.
A $10 Gold and a Washington/Liberty head piece. I have not seen it with a shattered die.
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I picked up the last one early last year. Although common, not seen in uncirculated. It’s graded MS64 NGC
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Jinx86

Ive collected a few of these, mostly for the designs. My favorite are a series of mini German coins made by Lauer, same maker as the 3rd one you have imaged. Ill have to dig them out some year and show the group.

Zoins

Great collection Stef! Why am I not surprised if anyone has a great collection of these here it would be you?

I've followed these and picked up one or two but haven't gone all the way yet. The nice ones can fetch a decent sum!

Does PCGS slab these?

thisistheshow

@Jinx86 said:
Ive collected a few of these, mostly for the designs. My favorite are a series of mini German coins made by Lauer, same maker as the 3rd one you have imaged. Ill have to dig them out some year and show the group.

As I looked at the OP that third one caught my eye. Thanks for the direction on what to search. I'd never seen these before. Very nice!

lava

Good eye. Neat pieces. That Washington die was on its last legs. Thanks for sharing

ricko

Those are very nice Stef....I am not familiar with them, but will do a bit of research now that I have seen yours...Thanks for showing us... Cheers, RickO

coinsarefun

@ricko said:
Those are very nice Stef....I am not familiar with them, but will do a bit of research now that I have seen yours...Thanks for showing us... Cheers, RickO

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Thanks ricko. I guess I thought since these were so common everyone knew about them.
They are all c.1850s; and while some do not bear a maker's mark, I think they are all struck by the Lauer firm of Nuremberg, Germany. The inscriptions Comp. S. Marke and Compos. Spiel-Marke are variations of Composition Spielmarke, and Spielmarke is German for "play money." The motto In Unitate Fortitudo is Latin for, "In unity [there is] strength." These design differences were intended to prevent accusations of counterfeiting, Similar game counters imitated other U.S. gold denominations, and as their name suggests, they were used in much the same way that play money or poker chips are today.

coinsarefun

Thanks everyone for the comments.
@Zoins I was thinking about this lately as I have several now. I do know that they have Rulau numbers so
I would imagine PCGS would grade these. I need to get a hold of a few people I know in the token Dept. and ask.
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@Jinx86 If you find yours please post them. And, anyone else that has some feel free to show them

1775

Have 100's of them / been keeping all that i buy in my store for the last 40 years /The fun part of being a dealer being able to keep items that are varied and neat and not expensive/ Need to pull them out and actually see how many varieties there are.

Aspie_Rocco

What are they made from? Composition?

COINS MAKE CENTS

I recently picked some spiel mark tokens up as well. I think they are pretty neat

coinsarefun

This one just arrived today and wanted to share.
1849 California Counter / Gambling Token with Miner Gilt. NGC MS64......Might just be one of the highest grade known.
As usual it has a very weak strike on obverse and reverse. This game counter was used in the Gambling Halls of the old West. It is the roughly the size of a half eagle and has a Liberty five dollar obverse. The reverse depicts a miner examining a nugget with palm trees in the background. These pieces were made in England in 1849.
These are fairly common but as most that are common and this old to find one example that is full luster and
high grade is truly a feat.
I found some reference to a variety of this token to the Palm Tree leaves. One has more than the other . When I finish the research I'll post it here.
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mapleman

Cool.....

coinsarefun

Sorry, haven't posted here for some time as well, but feeling better and better
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The I'm posting today has the same reverse as the first $20 double eagle but a different obverse.
The one in first post has 10 stars on the obverse and says "Compos. Spiel-Munz"
The one I posted today has 15 stars Comp S, Mark.It has a reeded edge and is much heavier than the other $20 Dbl Eagle.
But both still have their full gilt remaining.
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And now for some California Tokens with some flags
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$20 Double Eagle Counter, 35mm - brass. CALIFORNIA / COUNTER // (Liberty) / 1852
Fauver # FLAG-1220 / Liberty 1852-1200 Reeded Edge R-6 rarity.
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$10 Eagle Counter 27mm - brass CALIFORNIA / COUNTER // (Liberty) / 1847
Fauver # FLAG-1000 / Liberty 1847-1000 Reeded Edge R-6 rarity.
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This one is extremely hard to find in uncirculated. So I paid up a bit but still a super nice & valuable California Counter Flag Token
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NumisOxide

Nice high grade examples there. Thanks for posting.

coinsarefun

Update for some true views.......and I wanted to add attention to the first updated post above for reference.
** ONLINE TAMS**
This covers so many different California and other counter tokens. I highly recommend this to anyone that might consider
collecting these...or already does

A few true views for the ones in my original post
$20 double eagle PCGS MS61

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$5 SP. Mark PCGS MS65
GW-408 Brass, Washington Composits. Spiel-Marke

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1860's GW-408 Brass, Washington Composit. Spiel-Marke
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Insider2

These tokens are very scarce in the grades imaged here. I buy every one I can find in any grade if the price is low.

coinsarefun

I agree @Insider2 these are very hard to locate in uncirculated condition and a fair majority are just plain ol’ hard
to locate. When you do find one in nice mint state they go for high dollar.

coinsarefun

I picked up another one recently. I'm going to send this one in for grading and true view.
It's an c.1860's R4 Gilt, another one you almost never see uncirculated. I think this might go MS65
I just love the die clashes on both sides.
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Justacommeman

These are fun Stef!!!

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coinsarefun

A few from above graded and true viewed. Very uncommon to find uncirculated
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1852 $20 K-6 California Counter Bronze MS62BN
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1847 $10 California Counter Brass MS63
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CaptHenway

I am not familiar with that 1847 piece. Why 1847? Sure we had just stolen California and some other states from Mexico in the Mexican War of 1846, but this has a gold rush look to it. Seems to go with the 1852 $20 token. Did the manufacturer just reuse a slightly outdated token obverse die?

NumisOxide

I like these. Especially in Unc condition.

coinsarefun

Well a few more came in today and I just finished imaging them and hope to send them off for grading Monday or Tuesday.
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Strasburger & Nuhn Importers R7.
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Louis Kossuth The Washington Of Hungary R5
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1856 Compos. Spiel Munze New York City hall $20 Double Eagle R5
Besides being bigger grade it has prooflike fields.
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Spread eagle counter with watch fob R8
I never purchase anything that has been suspended but, this is so spectacular I had to make one exception!
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Zoins

@coinsarefun said:
I picked up another one recently. I'm going to send this one in for grading and true view.
It's an c.1860's R4 Gilt, another one you almost never see uncirculated. I think this might go MS65
I just love the die clashes on both sides.
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Love the collection and love the die clash on this one!

When you get into a series, you really go all out! Very impressive

coinsarefun

Thanks @Zoins The other Washington and Liberty head has some clashing too with a ton of die cracks.
Hard to see as the trueview is to dark. The token is not that dark.
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fretboard

Wowie kopwie! Them some great looking tokens! Good for you!!

coinsarefun

2 additional piece arrived today. Both from same seller. I think they 1847 may have been dug up as it looks
to me very porous. Both are R5 but I think I need to return dated one. I hope the seller is okay refunding part as the other
one with the eagle reverse and flag is okay looking.
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Give me your opinion on this one below.........
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Insider2

@coinsarefun said:
2 additional piece arrived today. Both from same seller. I think they 1847 may have been dug up as it looks
to me very porous. Both are R5 but I think I need to return dated one. I hope the seller is okay refunding part as the other
one with the eagle reverse and flag is okay looking.
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Does this one have a catalog #?

coinsarefun

@Insider2 said:

@coinsarefun said:
2 additional piece arrived today. Both from same seller. I think they 1847 may have been dug up as it looks
to me very porous. Both are R5 but I think I need to return dated one. I hope the seller is okay refunding part as the other
one with the eagle reverse and flag is okay looking.
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Does this one have a catalog #?

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I'm using the online TAMS for now. Been trying to bid on a little bit newer books but the get pricey.
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Insider2

Thank you!

coinsarefun

@Insider2 I was searching today and ran across this. They call it a Kagin 4.
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coinsarefun

2 More arrived. These are merchant tokens with the Compositions Spiel Mark.
One with the Liberty Head and One with the Eagle
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1850s Memphis Tennessee M.H. Miller and Co, Tenn-33, Brass, 27.5mm, reeded edge. Obverse: Hat at center; M.H. Miller & Co. Hatters, above; 257 Main Str. Memphis Ten., below. Reverse: an eagle in the center; around: Compositions *** Spiel - Mark.
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1850s Memphis Tennessee M.H. Miller and Co Tenn-33, Brass, 27.5mm, reeded edge. Obverse: Hat at center; M.H. Miller & Co. Hatters, above; 257 Main Str. Memphis Ten., below. Reverse: an Liberty Head in the center; around: Compositions *** Spiel - Mark

coinsarefun

Since this is in the same category as California counters I thought to include some information I found. Its not much
but still more than I knew last week.
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I posted the Radiant Eagle counters with watch for a week or so back on this thread. Since then I found an aluminum one
and more information for on the internet.
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These are the two I own. Oddly they are both the same size but the gold plated weighs significantly more.
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And this page is taken from TAMS
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coinsarefun

This 1849 California Token is silvered Brass. It’s said to be R7. I think it should be more like R 8 because I never see these. Typical soft stuck centers. But it may grade an AU53 that would be a very nice grade for this rare of a token.
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coinsarefun

Time for another update as I purchased a few more.
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I posted this one with its separate thread but then figured out it is fact unique and the plate coin in Fauver's book
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34mm UNDATED BRONZE FLAG COUNTER, 4mm THICK DOUBLE EAGLE REV. NGC MS 63 BN. R10
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Now here's something you don't see everyday either. A very crude $10 Indian.
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johnny9434

its nice to see stuff like this. its all the more appreciated

2dueces

Great stuff. Can’t help but like all shiny objects.

coinsarefun

Thanks @johnny9434 and @2dueces.
I was very hesitant to post these as there is not much understanding nor appreciation for these.
rare tokens. Then I figured a heck even if a few people learn of their existence they might appreciate them.

DCW

Good to see this niche of the hobby get some respect. For what it's worth, I think you're putting together a very solid collection of these. Buy 'em why you can, I say. They're not making any more of them...

Gluggo

That 10$ Indian is something else, thank you for sharing.

hchcoin

I absolutely love your collecting tastes. Very cool stuff in this thread.

Zoins

These are really neat. Thanks for posting the updates Stef. You are really building a world class collection of these. I've followed these for some time but haven't seen so many great condition pieces as you've posted here.

Also, just wanted to say this one is extraordinary. It's in such great condition.

I recently got to wondering how many coin collectors play poker and if it would be fun to have some modern counters struck to use as poker chips.

coinsarefun

@Zoins said:

I recently got to wondering how many coin collectors play poker and if it would be fun to have some modern counters struck to use as poker chips.

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Not sure as I’m a slot person myself

coinsarefun

I thought to include this here as it belongs. I did a thread of it’s own but still should really be included.
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Below is the box that held the 4 very small "model" coins. They are very small, similar to the fractional gold.
Rarer than the coins inside and R8 on the rarity by L. B. Fauver "Early California Counters" Between 5-9 examples known.
I have only been able to locate ** one auction on Heritage **
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This is the box open with a Jefferson next to it for size relationship
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This is the inside view of the box.
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coinsarefun

I managed to find another Radiant American Gaming Counter, this one is 500. The larger denomination I've seen yet but not in any of my reference books from Fauver. I guess I have to do some searching on this one for the R number.
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Oddly, even though this is the largest denomination is it the smallest in size,
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Here is a group image to get a feel for the sizes. The 50 is aluminum, 10 is gold gilt and the 500 is brass
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coinsarefun

According to the website "coinquest" they state
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Token US Kossuth - Nothing Is Impossible - Washington of Hungary 1850 to 1870
The best information we've found is that this gaming token was struck in brass around the time of the US Civil War. There are two varieties: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE and THE WASHINGTON OF HUNGARY. The obverse ('heads' side) shows Lajos Kossuth, a Hungarian freedom fighter of the period, and the reverse side shows the pattern of a US gold $10 eagle coin. There are also some reverses with words about the Cause of Hungary (see secondary picture)
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Louis Kossuth The Washington Of Hungary R5
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This one arrived today and is also R5.
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Zoins

Great counter tokens Stef! You're on a roll!

coinsarefun

Thanks @Zoins

tokenpro

The Kossuth counters are most probably pre-U.S. Civil War and were most likely issued during 1851-52 after the U.S. Congress approved his visit from exile in the Ottoman Empire. This excerpt from the New York Sun newspaper shows the tenor of the visit:

"Thus immediately previous to the Christmas of 1851 New York city underwent a period of Kossuth mania, and it affected the holiday presents. **Every New Year's gift associated itself in some designation with Kossuth and Hungary. **Restaurants abounded with Hungarian goulash, a savory dish of boiled beef and vegetables, strongly infused with red peppers; and there were Kossuth cravats (formidable bands of satin or silk wound around the neck, with ends liberally folded over the shirt front), Kossuth pipes, Kossuth umbrellas, Kossuth belts and buckles, Kossuth purses, Kossuth jackets, and Kossuth braid and tassels for wearing apparel......The American Museum on Broadway "was literally covered with paintings and flags. One, a portrait of Kossuth, in the folds of Hungarian and American flags, with the words at the bottom: 'Kossuth, the Washington of Hungary"

There are a double handful + of different Kossuth counters with portraits facing right and left, with quotation and U.S. eagle reverses and even a couple of later strikes from Waterbury muled with Abraham Lincoln 1860 Presidential campaign token reverses. If the counters were issued in 1851-2, the use of the U.S. eagle reverse helps date the early use of that die. The five or six commonly encountered varieties are often available in high grade despite their optimistic R-5 & R-6 rarity ratings by Mssrs. Fuld The Younger & Rulau.

WillieBoyd2

A few Radiant Eagle tokens have made it into the motion picture business.

Radiant Eagle tokens in film

This is a scene from the 1957 Allied Artists Western film "Gun Duel in Durango" where they were used, along with other tokens, as prop coins to portray coins from a bank robbery.