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Question about tokens

BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
I was cleaning out a closet today and came across a shoebox with a bunch of old tokens:
Rochester Lines NYSRYS
United Traction Company System
Pittsburgh Railways Co 1922 (the only one with a date)
plus a bunch of others.

Do these have any collectible value? Worth a shot on Ebay, you think?

Comments

  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    tranportation tokens??

    sure, put them on ebay!
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You'd need more details to be certain but those you list have common varieties which
    sell for about a nickel each wholesale. There are scarce and rare varieties of some of
    these and some transportation tokens have valuations over $200. In all probability
    these will all be common. The 1922 tokens have a large number of varieties and the
    scarcer ones appear once in a while. They do not command much of a premium though.

    PM a list or post some pictures and I'll try to give more specific information.
    Tempus fugit.
  • GeminiGemini Posts: 3,085
    Collectors of tranportation tokens are called vecturists and their organization is the American Vecturists Society. A web search will get you there or try under transportation tokens. They have message boards there and specialists to answer any questions you may have about these tokens.
    A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Thanks guys.

    Cladking-Here are a few pics. Definitely not my best work, but if you need better pics, let me know and I'll reshoot them individually:

    image

    Obverse and reverse shown for the tokens I have multiples. Sorry about the top one. It says Philadelphia and PTC in a logo in the center:
    image


    The token in the lower right is the same both sides. Lower left has other side similar to lower right, but not exactly the same:
    image
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,637 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Collectors of tranportation tokens are called vecturists and their organization is the American Vecturists Society. A web search will get you there or try under transportation tokens. They have message boards there and specialists to answer any questions you may have about these tokens. >>



    Thanks for the info. I had no idea there was a website for the American Vecturist Association.





    Barry: The tokens pictured are all pretty common horde tokens. The Sheffield, AL token is not
    as common but there are enough that it holds the catalog value to 25c. There are probably a few
    hundred of these which swamps the demand. The Pittsburgh token looks like second issue which
    is unusual only in high grade.

    While all tokens are pretty fascinating to me and these are no exception, it's improbable that a
    collector would lack these unless he was a beginner.
    Tempus fugit.
  • Those are some neat looking transportation and tax tokens.image They aren't really rare or anything, most of em will sell very cheaply.
    Scott Hopkins
    -YN Currently Collecting & Researching Colonial World Coins, Especially Spanish Coins, With a Great Interest in WWII Militaria.

    My Ebay!
  • dthigpendthigpen Posts: 3,932 ✭✭
    Very neat! I just started collecting tokens/medals myself and dig them!
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the info!
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Doug,
    PM me your address and I'll mail them to you.

    The rest of the shoebox is filled with darkside coins. I haven't looked closely at them yet, but most are from the 40s thru 60s, as well as a few older ones, including a Haiti coin from 1908. I'll have to go through them sometime...
  • dthigpendthigpen Posts: 3,932 ✭✭
    Wow, thanks a lot! That's very generous of you, I love researching the background and history of these tokens.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,637 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Wow, thanks a lot! That's very generous of you, I love researching the background and history of these tokens. >>



    The Atwood-Coffee Catalog of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens-1983 (there is a substantial price break on this if you join the AVA. there are also volumes on varieties but these should be used for die reference only)

    Video Arcade, Pinball, Slot Machine and Other Amusement Tokens of North America-1984 (Alpert and Smith) (this might prove difficult to locate)

    I don't believe there is a book on the tax tokens yet but there are several excellent articles and pamphlets which are probably difficult to locate. The ATTS should be able to help.
    Tempus fugit.
  • dthigpendthigpen Posts: 3,932 ✭✭
    Thanks for those reference cladking, I'll definately pick them up for my library.
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    I found some tokens..

    They have a picture of a big rat on them and say Chucky Cheese!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • dthigpendthigpen Posts: 3,932 ✭✭


    << <i>I found some tokens..

    They have a picture of a big rat on them and say Chucky Cheese!!! >>



    image

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