Any background on the 1971-1973 Private Treasury Tokens?

Zoins

I just ran across this private treasury token from Martin A. Di Bella and apparently there are a number of them, mostly struck in 1971 but some in 1972 and 1973. They all seem to have Benjamin Franklin on one side along with the number of grains of sterling silver. Does anyone have any information on these? Who minted them and how are the people related?

• Listing: http://www.jezuss.nl/tr/treasury.htm
• Martin A. Di Bella: https://www.vcoins.com/fr/stores/world_money_shop/189/product/silver_token_from_the_private_treasury_of_martin_a_di_bella_1971_choice_unc/1175393/Default.aspx

ricko

I have no information on them... was living in the Caribbean and Europe during those years......Nice lion design. Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

A Franklin Mint promotional gimmick. It appealed to people’s egos to see their names in metal. No collector value that I am aware of.

JBK

I love it! Gimmick or not, that is a neat token. If the cost was low enough (and I'm sure it was NOT) then I would have loved to have had some private silver made up.

coinsarefun

I’ve never seen that. The lion reminds me of mine.
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