Off Topic a little..... Trade Tokens

IndianHeadMan

What's the best way to get up to speed on these things. It is impossible for someone to document all the different ones that are around. How do I tell how old or authentic these are? How do I know that someone just isn't using an old die and making them by the thousands? Any help would be appreciated.

Gemini

Andrew...what group of trade tokens are you specifically making a reference to?
Don-Gemini

IndianHeadMan

I guess the store card type. "Good for" "In Trade" type

Gemini

Russell Rulau has a book that list a good many tokens issued through the years of 1700-1900.

It is called "Standard Catalog of United States Tokens".
The book doesn't list all the tokens in a series but gives pretty good coverage.
You can find this book at most good book shops I found mine at Barnes and Noble.

As a rule these pieces are rather esoteric and appeal to specialized collectors so these are really not heavily copied although there are some counterfeits out there.

Many of the grading sevices will now certify them.

If your are interested in the Civil War token era look up the Civil War Token Society. They also have a very good book on Civil War Storecard tokens.

You can search just about anything on tokens on the web.
Also do a search on hard times tokens or whatever area you are most interested in there is much information out there.

Hope this helps some.
Don-Gemini

truthteller

"good for" tokens are a highly specialized field. In fact, many experts in the field don't even know the prices for some. Several authors have written books on these token, for states such as CA, UT, OR, ID. In general, western state tokens are the scarcer ones. Tokens from small towns, or ghost towns are best. Tokens from saloons are of greatest value. Most generic tokens, brass or alum., from stores or merchants usually range from $3 to $10, while saloon tokens can go as high as $1000.

TRUTH