Don the Beachcomber Hawaii token

Zoins · March 28, 2019 6:17PM

I collect Hawaii exonumia and really loved this token when I came across it. I have no idea it's worth but was willing to bid somewhat aggressively, however, it ended up going for $1,026.11 which was more than my target. It's a pop 0/1/0 ATS but there are a number of raw examples in worse condition out there. I hope other high grade specimens come out of the woodwork now.

Anyone ever go to any of the Don the Beachcomber tiki bars or have these Akahi Dala tokens?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hawaii-Trade-Token-Don-the-Beachcomber-early-tiki-Honolulu-HI-MS64-NGC-/233169667933?nordt=true

Broadstruck · March 28, 2019 6:29PM

Yeah POP 1 $15-40.00 token just because NGC must have just decided to grade these last month

There's other not so pictorial brass tokens and wooden nickles also.

Icollecteverything · March 28, 2019 6:51PM

Tings I never know.

DCW · March 28, 2019 7:20PM

This is neat, but $1000? What date range is this estimated to have been struck? Looks fairly modern.

Zoins · March 29, 2019 2:46AM

Agree $1000 is out of this world. I liked it as a condition rarity but that was too much for me.

This one isn't as nearly as nice but recently sold for just $35.74.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Don-the-Beachcomber-Token-Coin-1-Trade-I-D-/323715622124?nordt=true

Broadstruck · March 29, 2019 3:07AM

I strongly believe the condition rarity on this will be short lived once others see what the eBay NGC example sold for. This isn't a token most collectors would even consider having slabbed. Think of it as a 1960's McDonald's Big Mac token as full rolls might even exist?

Zoins · March 29, 2019 3:15AM

@Broadstruck said:
I strongly believe the condition rarity on this will be short lived once others see what the eBay NGC example sold for. This isn't a token most collectors would even consider having slabbed. Think of it as a 1960's McDonald's Big Mac token as full rolls might even exist?

I agree and I'm hoping this price will encourage some more high grade, and even higher grade, pieces to come out at more reasonable prices.

The fact NGC slabs something has an interesting effect on price. Some increases seem lasting and some not as much. I remember the Australian decimal dollar patterns selling for about $350 before NGC slabbed them and now they are like $1500 - $2000. Many others, however, don't end up selling for much, even when slabbed.

ricko · March 29, 2019 4:44AM

I have never been to Don the Beachcomber's bar... add that to the list of bars I missed... It was not intentional, I assure you.... Neat token with a touch of humor. Cheers, RickO

johnny9434 · March 29, 2019 5:17AM

I like

jabba · March 29, 2019 6:46AM

That’s a cool token

dtkk49a · March 29, 2019 7:15AM

I collected Hawaiian tokens at one time and some pre-statehood Hawaiian tokens can get pretty pricey. Some are incredibly rare.

JBK · March 29, 2019 7:25AM

WOW! I love this thread.

I'll tell you what little I know about Don the Beachcomber ("Beachcomber" for short).

I bought a check signed by bandleader Rudy Vallee. (He was one of the first modern pop stars of the teen idol variety.) The check I have is Rudy paying the original Don the Beachcomber club in California $50 during the WWII years, presumably for big night out, I did some research to get some background.

"Don the Beachcomber" was the nickname of the guy who started the restaurant/club. He was a beach bum type who had traveled the South Pacific region of Asia in the 1930s. His club had a South Pacific-inspired motif, and he pioneered the tiki style décor and various dishes that we associate with Polynesian cooking, and he reportedly invented drinks such as the Mai Tai.

Don went off to WWII and left his wife in charge. She did well for the business, and when he returned they split up and she got the rights to the business in the divorce. It became a chain of up to 16 or so locations in the mainland US, which eventually shrunk back down and the last one closed in the 1980s, I believe.

When the divorce locked Don out of the US in regard to the rights to his namesake restaurant, he moved to Hawaii which was still a territory and he was able to open up two new Don the Beachcomber restaurants. From what I can find out, there is one location left, in the Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island.

So, for those who said this token looks modern, you are correct. It is definitely post-WWII. I am guessing 1950s or 1960s based on what I know about the operation.

Now I'll have to go looking for one....