If your Great Grandmother suffered from having a Bicycle Face it could have been avoided...

Broadstruck

Had she carried this token below at all times!

1901 World's Fair, Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, New York, 31mm Diameter, Aluminum, Token

Using the newfangled contraption could lead to a terrifying medical condition.

"THE UNCONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ONE'S BALANCE TENDS TO PRODUCE A WEARIED AND EXHAUSTED 'BICYCLE FACE'"

"Over-exertion, the upright position on the wheel, and the unconscious effort to maintain one's balance tend to produce a wearied and exhausted 'bicycle face,'" noted the Literary Digest in 1895. It went on to describe the condition: "usually flushed, but sometimes pale, often with lips more or less drawn, and the beginning of dark shadows under the eyes, and always with an expression of weariness." Elsewhere, others said the condition was "characterized by a hard, clenched jaw and bulging eyes."

Full article link on this condition as found on the web

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/8/5880931/the-19th-century-health-scare-that-told-women-to-worry-about-bicycle

GaCoinGuy

Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

jedm

@GaCoinGuy Coffee breath? Very amusing @Broadstruck I always open your threads because I find your sense of humor very compatible with mine.

Broadstruck

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

gumby1234

Prevents love and unhappy marriage too. Why would anyone want to carry it.

johnny9434

at least the token is somewhat interesting, just saying

Mr_Spud

GaCoinGuy

@Broadstruck said:

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

Thank you for the info. I have never heard that term before. It is an interesting piece.

tokenpro

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

As these types of tokens are often called medical amulets (not to be confused with earlier quack medicine batteries and amulets) or "Cure-Alls", Dark Brown Taste is very often interpreted as referring to liver bile (from overindulgence) in keeping with the overall theme of the piece. There are dozens of varieties and issuers of this popular type of token from all over the country with many of them having a misogynistic twist in the wording consistent with the turn-of-the-century (1900) times.

kaz

Face bleach? Lord knows what was in that stuff!

oih82w8

Kinda reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's "Side Effects" skit;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zybHArX5R1k

NumisOxide

Nice token Broadstruck! I think I have
seen that obverse design before. Was it paired with different reverses?

LanceNewmanOCC

earth, you just gotta love it...

LINK

Mr_Spud

This just popped up on my Facebook feed, I think she needs one of those tokens. I wonder if it showing up on my Facebook has something to do with me googling bicycle face earlier today 🤔

thisistheshow

Good stuff I'm bookmarking this thread.

ricko

Amazing how easily the sheep are led..... Cheers, RickO

1775

I've gotta get one of those!!!!!!!!!!

Broadstruck

@coinJP said:
Nice token Broadstruck! I think I have
seen that obverse design before. Was it paired with different reverses?

Thanks, and sorry as I got sidetracked....

Off the top of my head, I don't recall seeing that obverse buffalo used with another reverse designed die but it's possible.

BuffaloIronTail

A Buck a bottle.........................pretty expensive in 1901 if you ask me.

Pete

Alltheabove76

@Broadstruck said:

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

Source?

braddick

This paperweight would match that token exquisitely!

WillieBoyd2

"Dark Brown Taste" is also a slang term meaning to wake up and taste something without brushing one's teeth before.

Broadstruck

@Alltheabove76 said:

@Broadstruck said:

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

Source?

Seen on Black Americana memorabilia issued at the same time period.

SilverEagle1974

@braddick said:
This paperweight would match that token exquisitely!

Did James Earle Fraser make this ?
Is it so similar to the Buffalo nickel, even the font style of the date.

Thanks for any help.

Chris

fathom

I thought this might refer to someone doing a face plant off a bicycle.

Which I have done.

Alltheabove76

@Broadstruck said:

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

Source?> @Broadstruck said:

@Alltheabove76 said:

@Broadstruck said:

@GaCoinGuy said:
Never seen that one before. I wonder what Dark Brown Taste means?

It's a racial slur aimed at a specific ethnic group in a derogatory manner. Unfortunately, such was seen on many tokens even merchant advertising cards from the turn of the century through the 1940's.

Source?

Seen on Black Americana memorabilia issued at the same time period.

I would argue that its a double entendre in that example.

LanceNewmanOCC

@Broadstruck said:

.
is the OP example yours or you just sharing an peculiar token you came across?

you and a handful of people have been posting super esoteric stuff for a long time, much to our enjoyment!

Onastone

Here's the only Bicycle face I could think of....

Broadstruck

@LanceNewmanOCC said:

@Broadstruck said:

.
is the OP example yours or you just sharing an peculiar token you came across?

you and a handful of people have been posting super esoteric stuff for a long time, much to our enjoyment!

Thanks... It's mine as it was part of a small exonumia group lot I recently bought and just photographed.

SilverEagle1974

It says it prevents "Love" & "Unhappy Marriages".
Is this NOT counterproductive ?

Any comments ?

Chris

LanceNewmanOCC

@SilverEagle1974 said:
It says it prevents "Love" & "Unhappy Marriages".
Is this NOT counterproductive ?

Any comments ?

Chris

good call.

love is for sure the worst and simultaneously best on the list. a true testament to its power.

i suppose most are in the camp of, "better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

BucketHead

Ms. BucketHead and I are cyclists and this thread made our day.
I showed it to her and she said “I always wondered what happened to you”.
Cheers.