The California-Nevada Token Society

Zoins

Does anyone have any information on the California Nevada Token Society? They were founded in 1971 and lasted through at least 1976. Was anyone here a member?

I ran across the following tokens on the bay and a mention in the TAMS Journal but no other info so far.

These are stamped 14, 66, and 24 so presumably they had that many members.

There is mention of CNTS in the TAMS Journal on NNP where they donated a copy of the CAL-NEVA TOKEN LEDGER, Volume 4, Number 5. It would be great to have searchable PDFs of all their issues.

https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/525675?page=30

Zoins

Here's their 1976 token.

The 1976 die has the initials DHF and RDT.

https://www.icollector.com/Babbitt-Nevada-token-and-CA-NV-Revolution-Bicentennial_i20813302

Babbitt, Nevada token and CA-NV Revolution Bicentennial
Georgia Harold Jones POB 244 Babbitt, Nev.// GF one drink. California-Nevada American Revolution Bicentennial // California Nevada Token Society NS Date: Various NV hwac 21145

Zoins

A variation of the 1976 die was also used here with the same initials in slightly different locations: DHF and RDT.

https://www.icollector.com/Fran-s-Star-Ranch-Brothel-Token-101818_i32828598

Fran's Star Ranch Brothel Token (101818)
These two are 39mm, round burnished bronze brothel token from Fran's Star Ranch in Beatty, Nye County, Nevada. The obverse reads FRAN'S STAR RANCH / (star) / IT'S A TRICKY / BUSINESS! / 702-553-9986 / RATED (3 stars) / 3 MILES NORTH / OF / BEATTY, NEV. / (3 stars from 8 to 9 o'clock) (3 stars from 3 to 4 o'clock) and the reverse reads (star)NEVADA(star)/1776 200 YEARS 1976)/SALUTES/AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL (ram's head with horns, wreath). City: Beatty, Nye County State: Nevada Date:

Zoins

Looks like DHF is Duane H. Feisel of Los Altos, California.

The following article mentions both sets of initials on his personal token.

https://vecturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1976.pdf

Duane H. Feisel said:
As you can see from my advertisement which appears in this issue, I have a business supplying custom minted tokens and medals. This being the bicentennial year (or at least it is close at hand), there is considerable interest in medallic commemoratives by businesses, organizations and individuals . Many of the offerings ., of medals produced by other mints are priced to exclude many people, so I have developed something which an organization can sell for $1 (affordable by almost everyone) and yet still be of a good quality. The response to this has been tremendous, and I am making a number of orders.
[...]
Incidentally, Mr . Coffee made a slight error in not including as part of the reverse descriptions for 305 K and 305 P the initials DHF and RDT which are on the pieces .

Duane wrote a number of books which are listed on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Duane-H-Feisel/s?rh=n:283155,p_27:Duane+H.+Feisel

Feisel's Catalogue of Parking Tokens of the World 1966
by Duane H. Feisel | Jan 1, 1966
Hardcover

California '76: Tokens & medals of the American Revolution Bicentennial
by Stephen Album and Duane H Feisel | Jan 1, 1980
Paperback

Catalog of Pre-Prohibition California Saloon Tokens
by Duane H. Feisel | Jan 1, 2004
Hardcover
Currently unavailable.

Feisel's Catalogue of Parking Tokens of the World: Third Edition
by J.V. (editor) Feisel. Duane H.; Pelicano | Jan 1, 1988
Hardcover
Currently unavailable.

Catalog of California Food Stamp Credit Tokens 1939-1979 Including Nevada Food Stamp Credit Tokens
by Jerry F Schimmel and Duane H Feisel | Jan 1, 1998
Spiral-bound
Currently unavailable.

Catalog of California Encased and Stickered Coins
by Duane H Feisel and John Allred and John C Hoffman | Jan 1, 2003
Spiral-bound
Currently unavailable.

California trade token place names
by Duane H Feisel | Jan 1, 1973
Unknown Binding
Out of Print--Limited Availability.

Namvet69

Thanks for this reference work. Always interesting. Peace Roy

Zoins

The NNP has an issue of the publication that mentions Feisel and links him to Jesse Patrick via Meyer & Wenthe.

Personal Tokens and Medals of American Numismatists by Pete Smith who mentions that Feisel was an agent of Meyer & Wenthe, who did work for Jesse Patrick.

Later Duane H. Feisel was also an agent for Meyer & Wenthe. Meyer & Wenthe struck the first Patrick Mint pieces for Jesse Patrick.

https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/528986?page=565

This is a recent publication coming out in 2000 and on NNP already.

Zoins

Here's a store card for Duane H. Feisel. This indicates he was the West Coast representative for Meyer & Wenthe which would put him a good position to provide minting services to the California-Nevada Token Society, Jesse Patrick, and others.

Of note the 1776-1976 California die has a similar look to the Nevada die and also has the two initials: DHF and RDT. I'm still looking for the identity of RDT.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1976-duane-feisel-los-altos-3790003733

Zoins

By the way, the 1974 token mentions William A. Williges, who was also in the American Vecturist Association.

Zoins

I'm surprised that there's so little information on this organization online, given that they seem to have years of journals.

The journals really need to be scanned by the NNP.

Does anyone have a set of journals that can be submitted?

SF_numismatics

The California Nevada Token Society became the Western States Token Society (WESTS). We had annual shows up until the pandemic and are still active. I expect that the next show will be in early Spring 2022, somewhere in Northern California. P.S. I have just sent all the old journals that I have to the NNP to be scanned, but it is not a complete collection. PPS. DHF is indeed Duane Feisel. Not sure who RDT was.

Zoins

@SF_numismatics said:
The California Nevada Token Society became the Western States Token Society (WESTS). We had annual shows up until the pandemic and are still active. I expect that the next show will be in early Spring 2022, somewhere in Northern California. P.S. I have just sent all the old journals that I have to the NNP to be scanned, but it is not a complete collection. PPS. DHF is indeed Duane Feisel. Not sure who RDT was.

Very cool. Thanks for the info!

I just did some searches on WESTS and found the following publications and auction:

http://worldcat.org/identities/nc-western states token society/

Most widely held works by Western States Token Society

California '76 : tokens & medals of the American Revolution Bicentennial by Stephen Album
1 edition published in 1980 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Catalogue of California food stamp credit tokens : 1939-1979 including Nevada food stamp credit tokens by Jerry F Schimmel
1 edition published in 1998 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Catalog of California encased coins
1 edition published in 2000 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

WESTS 2019 auction

https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/2019-WESTS-Token-Auction_a38239

Zoins

Here's a WESTS numismatist token from Glenn A. Rome with what looks like a generic WESTS token die.

Was the WESTS token die used for multiple club members?

I've also seen a number of tokens from the Transportation Token Society that seem like they had a common die paired with many numismatist dies.

SPalladino

Great work, @Zoins! Thank you for sharing.

tokenpro

@Zoins said:
Here's a WESTS numismatist token from Glenn A. Rome with what looks like a generic WESTS token die.

Was the WESTS token die used for multiple club members?

I've also seen a number of tokens from the Transportation Token Society that seem like they had a common die paired with many numismatist dies.

Yes and yes.

Zoins

@tokenpro said:

@Zoins said:
Here's a WESTS numismatist token from Glenn A. Rome with what looks like a generic WESTS token die.

Was the WESTS token die used for multiple club members?

I've also seen a number of tokens from the Transportation Token Society that seem like they had a common die paired with many numismatist dies.

Yes and yes.

Nice! Anyone here have these tokens done with their names?

Zoins

@Namvet69 and @SPalladino Thanks for the comments!

@SF_numismatics and @tokenpro Thanks for the info!

It's great to learn about the people behind our hobby

calcabman

@SF_numismatics said:
The California Nevada Token Society became the Western States Token Society (WESTS). We had annual shows up until the pandemic and are still active. I expect that the next show will be in early Spring 2022, somewhere in Northern California. P.S. I have just sent all the old journals that I have to the NNP to be scanned, but it is not a complete collection. PPS. DHF is indeed Duane Feisel. Not sure who RDT was.

My first post here ... I hope it's OK to bump this old thread. I'm moving soon and have been going through boxes of who knows what. I found many journals from the California Nevada Token Society (I was a member for several years) so I may be able to fill in any missing issues. However, I've been out of the hobby for more than 30 years and need some help here ... What is NNP? Is there an obvious way to search it to see what issues have been scanned? Is it clear how to submit materials in case I can fill some blanks?

AUandAG

@Zoins said:
A variation of the 1976 die was also used here with the same initials in slightly different locations: DHF and RDT.

https://www.icollector.com/Fran-s-Star-Ranch-Brothel-Token-101818_i32828598

Fran's Star Ranch Brothel Token (101818)
These two are 39mm, round burnished bronze brothel token from Fran's Star Ranch in Beatty, Nye County, Nevada. The obverse reads FRAN'S STAR RANCH / (star) / IT'S A TRICKY / BUSINESS! / 702-553-9986 / RATED (3 stars) / 3 MILES NORTH / OF / BEATTY, NEV. / (3 stars from 8 to 9 o'clock) (3 stars from 3 to 4 o'clock) and the reverse reads (star)NEVADA(star)/1776 200 YEARS 1976)/SALUTES/AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL (ram's head with horns, wreath). City: Beatty, Nye County State: Nevada Date:

Frans is still there, don't know about the group the the bordello is doing just fine.
bob