Sales tax tokens...

Billet7

My great grandmother collected a bunch of these in the thirties and forties. Some are paper, plastic, fiber etc.

Does anyone collect these? Are they worth anything? I would imagine most are not worth much. Any info would be appreciated.

cladking

They do have very nominal values for the main part. Most are
extremely common in typical condition and some are even com-
mon in unc. Very few are common in gem.

These really are coins issued by the states and sometimes used
as lawful money. In 1935 the secret service pulled the plug on
them because they were competing with issue of the US Mint.

There are a few rarities which bring premiums and a few tougher
ones that sell for a dollar or two but with so many millions of
these surviving and only a few hundred serious collectors typ-
ical varieties get little attention.

This might change some day as more people come to see that
they truly are coins and more people will collect them as such.
Now something with a few hundred examples in existence is con-
sidered pretty common but that might change and the typical hor-
hid condition resulting from being poorly made and circulated can
cause interest in the higher grades.

I wouldn't hold my breath but as they sometimes say; time flies.

LotsoLuck

Some are worth a little. I dont have it handy but there is a website you can do some research. It is not complete but helpful.

droopyd

We have some of those mill tax tokens (mostly red & blue ones from Missouri, I think some green ones too) as well as a little booklet with slots to hold them. I imagine the booklet is worth more than the tokens these days.

SaorAlba

I believe they were used in some states like Missouri into the 1960's

cladking

<< <i>I believe they were used in some states like Missouri into the 1960's >>



I know Ohio used a paper ticket and some other states did as well into the '60's but I don't believe any metal, fiber, or plastic tokens were.

cladking

You're right and I'm mistaken.

I've got a copy of J F Schimmel's US State-issued Sales Tax Tokens- 1980. ...Forgot I had this.

He says MO still used plastic up to 1961.

I must also be confused since he says the first state issued pieces were in 1935.

DNADave

There is quite a bit of variety with these.

Every collection/accumulation should have some.

notwilight

I remember seeing the red and green plastic ones in junk boxes around the house when I was a kid in MO. I've considered picking up a few on ebay for nostalgia. They are inexpensive. --Jerry