What do the numbers mean on trade tokens?

jmm2562

Hello experienced token collectors!

I have a 5 cent trade token that has numbers on the back. What is the significance of the numbers? Are they serial numbers or model numbers?

I can find similar tokens on ebay but none with the 3 stars at the bottom of the reverse. All the tokens on ebay appear to have a bowtie design instead of the 3 stars. I also no sure about the significance of the stars, if any. I have other tokens with similar numbers and thought I would consult the experts.

Thanks!!

johnny9434

I don't know but that's in nice shape and way interesting 🤔

( I'm wondering if that's like rail road related?)

CCDollar

March 15th, 1948?

TrickleCharge

Someone on another forum suggested these may be slot machine tokens and that the number represented the store or company that issued it.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge about such pieces chimes in.

jmm2562

@CCDollar said:
March 15th, 1948?

The date works for some numbers I'm seeing on ebay, but not for others...

11737
12439
350454
31569
2950
30689
20499

I also found two listings with the exact same number 24769...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267121297219
https://www.ebay.com/itm/146684216447

This lends credence to the possibility that the number is a unique identifier for a slot machine or parlor. Presumably this would prevent the wrong tokens from being used or even simple slugs with the right weight, etc.

Fascinating mystery! Hope we get a definitive answer from a token sage among us.

DCW

Since gambling was illegal, vendors would get around this by putting slot machines that dispensed tokens on their counters. Still gambling, per se, but no cash was paid out. The tokens would be good at the store, hence the need for to identify what store they were good at. My guess is that the numbers were there for this reason. To identify the store without advertising that "Joe's Apothecary" was engaging in gambling. There are many, many tokens with this same design. I found one while metal detecting my own backyard.

jmm2562

Found a couple more in my collection. These both have the bowtie or dot at the bottom. The token at the top of this thread has 1 or 3 stars at the bottom.

The 25 cent token below offers a clue to the mystery. There is a comma in the number. This might suggest the number is a count rather than a serial/model number.