Civil war tokens
logger7
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Is there much demand for civil war, especially store tokens? I had a group that I had graded, though I've heard that collectors prefer them unslabbled. Have others seen these selling strong if they are in the right holders and grade at or near Unc. and red brown?
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That would depend entirely on type. You could have an uncirculated specimen sell for $15 or $15,000.
Kind of like asking if coins are in demand. Common pieces sell cheaply or not at all. Rare or interesting pieces are highly collectible and clean get expensive. If you let me know what you have, I can help you figure out value.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
The book on tokens gives a good overall rarity estimate. I bought a bunch from a shop where a lady who collected them had sold them. The shop owner was looking for the dedicated numismatist, Vinny Blume, who had unfortantely passed away so I got them instead and sent them to be slabbed.
This is the toughest I bought: CC TYLER AND COMPANY MI 225 CWT R6
Also had:
New York..G. LINDEMUELLER. Fuld-630AQ
Christoph Karl - Liquor Dealer - Lyre Instrument NY-63am-1a
George Parsons. Fuld-630BE-2A
Staudinger's Union Shield FULD 630BS-1
NY630BO-2a Edwd Schulze Restaurant - Deer Stag Antlers
In nice rb AU-BU condition these may be collectible, but not that strong. I'm thinking the historical story behind these is that stores were trying to build their business and gave these tokens out.
These pieces are quite collectable. The Civil War Token Society has been around and active for many years. As for "big bucks," they are not like coins, but the prices, especially for Mint State pieces, have gone up a great deal. Let's run through your list.
"CC Tyler" There is a J & C Taylor listed who ran a grocery store in Detriot. All of the listed tokens are rare. This says to me that the merchant considered issuing tokens, but never got beyond the "pattern" stage.
"G. Lindemueller" was a very prolific CTW issuer. There are rare varties, but as a merchant, he's easy to get. For years there was story of how a street car company in New York tired to get him to redeem his tokens. It was reported that he only laughed. This story is now questioned.
"Christoph Karl" He issued one common token, NY 630-1a.
"George Parsons" He issued one fairly common token, NY 630 BE-2a, which is an R-3. He has 20+ others which have high rarity ratings. Many tokens like this were made for collectors back in the day. They were made in small quantities.
"Staudinger's" he was a confectioner who issued many tokens, and a couple rare ones. ny 630 BS-1a and 2a are very common.
"Edwd Schulze" Once moe very common.
If you view doubling your money in 15 years as slow growth, that's okay, but it beats the devil out of the decline in prices for "modern junk coins." I was looking at the value of a 1998-S Kennedy half dollar I have which used to be listed as a "Matte Proof." Now it's a "SP" or "SMS, " and is worth half of what I paid for it. It was a former "modern blue chip."