Has anyone here ever collected or even heard of "PRISON MONEY"??
1630Boston
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from the New Jersey Numismatic Journal: Vol. 8 No. 4 via the NNP
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
2
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Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I have one or two pieces from the Tennessee State Prison somewhere. It's round like a real coin with a star shaped cutout in the middle with the value on it.
Neat story. I always thought it was all on paper, I guess.
According to most prison movies, smokes were the currency of the realm.
Not mine, but interesting
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Here’s a neat one:
WAUPUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I have had this in my misc stuff box for at least 40 yrs. now. It has O.S.P. on the reverse for Okla St Prison.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
Perfect example of how to assemble a collection of truly rare and historically significant items on a budget.
Jerry Zara's 1992 catalog is still the best source outside of the digital world but there have been many new issues and discoveries since then. The good news is that there is a great on-line catalog on prison tokens that is free to download from the Newman Portal at this link: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/589917
Many prison tokens are surprisingly common such as the plastic sets from North & South Carolina & Idaho and even those metal pieces from Sing Sing in Ossining NY & "The Tombs" in Manhattan. Some states used tokens, some used script only and some did a combination of both over time. Many of the newer issues are vending tokens rather than the work-earned tokens of the past -- the Waupun token above carries a very hopeful price as it is a hoard token. The catalog linked above should answer most questions but let me know of any others you may have.
Thanks for the info @tokenpro
boston
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
How? By going to prison?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Seems a little extreme but I'll think about it.
I know we have sold a ton of it over the years! Every show we set up at, we sell atleast a few pieces. So alot of folks must like it.
HAPPY COLLECTING
i started with them (i was short some brains for starting that)
There was a good article on the subject in the TAMS Journal some time in 1981.
Thankyou @CaptHenway
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I believe I found the article, thanks again @CaptHenway
Here is a link if anyone wants more info https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/525589?page=3
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I brought this 1809 to a show a while back and Steve Ellsworth asked me where I got my “prison cent”. He said they got that way from being used to bang on the bars.
Empty Nest Collection
Matt’s Mattes
I make it a point to put some money in Realone’s commissary while he is gone to November in forum prison
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I have one of these (fantasy stamped) Silver Certificates that was gifted to me years ago, I will have to see if I can find my "paper currency stash".
https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n45a11.html
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
I collect them but haven't been able to accumulate many. I do better with school lunch tokens. These are no more common but people snatch up the prison tokens.
Filed down to a sharp edge, those metal pieces could become a sharp weapon to cause some trouble. One could hone an edge by using the cement cell wall as a file to achieve this end.