Help with ID German/Austrian coin/token

JCPokey222

Hi,

I'd appreciate any help in identifying the following:

I'm assuming this is a post-WWII token. It specifies a value (50 groschen--half a schilling?), though it has no date. It’s lightweight (1.76g), I assume aluminum. I haven't measured carefully, but included a penny for size comparison. The reverse reads “arge innstufe Simbach Braunau”. Simbach and Braunau are towns opposite one another across the river Inn—the former in Germany, the latter in Austria, but perhaps the borders were different or unclear in the postwar era or perhaps I have the wrong time period—could have been earlier. My dad spent a summer in Braunau in or around 1950, so I’m pretty sure of the provenance and doubt it would be later.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Sapyx

An aluminium token denominated in "groschen" is definitely going to be from Austria, specifically Austria in the periods 1925-1938 and 1945-1999.

The word "innstufe" isn't translating in Google Translate but literally means "inn level"; I can't tell if "inn" here is a reference to the River Inn, or a literal house. Googling the word on German websites and it seems to have something to do with dams and hydroelectric systems; perhaps something like "water level control house", or maybe just "barrage on the Inn". In any event, there is a hydroelectric power plant at a barrage at Braunau-Simbach, just upstream from the two towns, operated by Austria. The plant was built 1951-1954, which seems to line up with your timeline; I assume these tokens were made for use at a worker's canteen at the construction site.

JCPokey222

Thanks, @Sapyx ! That sounds highly plausible -- appreciate your taking the time. My dad was studying civil engineering at the time, and likely working on bridges (and, I believe, dams), so that would tend to corroborate your theory. I'll see if that stirs any memories for him...