Communion Tokens - Anyone collect or have info?

StrikeOutXXX

Stopped at a yard sale today, and in a box of doo-dads was some encased cents, and this token.




Doing some quick googling shows this was:

St. Cuthberts Church 1847 Edingburg Scottish Communion Token

A communion token was a token issued during the 18th and 19th centuries by the Presbyterian and related churches in Scotland to members in good standing. It showed that a member was entitled to receive and participate in communion. Such tokens were also issued by Presbyterian churches in other British Colonial possessions (ie: Canada, Australia, Carribean, etc.).

This one and many others I found don't seem to be very expensive, most look to fall in that $15-$25 range, although I saw a few up over $50.

I went looking for a reference book, and found this one:
Communion Token Book on Amazon



I have never even heard of these, and if I saw one before, I certainly didn't realize what I was looking at.

So, a few questions for anyone in the know.

1) If you were going to buy a reference for these, would the above book be the one?
2) Although these seem to be predominantly overseas, are there many from the United States?
3) Does anyone collect these - and if so, feel free to share any of your images.
4) Feel free to add anything informative about these as well - I found ZERO "Communion Token" references searching the forum.

Thanks

LanceNewmanOCC

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new to me.
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Flatwoods

<< <i>.
new to me.
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X2

AUandAG

I've had quite a few over the years and found them all to be interesting but cheap as there seems
to be little following. Most of the ones I've seen were from Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand.
Yours is a later date one as mine were all late 1600's and early 1700's. Most were of this same shape.

bob

DaveWcoins

These are really cool, and as you said -- very inexpensive.

There are a very few that are from the USA during the early American period, and these can get a bit expensive (as much as $1000 or a bit more).

But you can get an enormous collection of these together (it will take you years to do that) in the $15-25 range.

MWallace

There is also a book titled "Communion Tokens of the United States" by Autence A. Bason. However it may be a bit tough to locate. She self-published it sometime in the late 80's or early 90's.

savoyspecial

I have always liked these and I own the Shutty book you picture and was going to recommend the Bason book but MWallace beat me to it......I happen to live in an area where there were many of these issued due to being a Presbyterian epicenter (Western N.C.)

About 20 minutes from where I live, Montreat has a huge collection of these on display:

Link to Montreat Presby. Heritage Center

1960NYGiants

The Canadian issues are catalogued by Charlton. My edition c.2000 does not have this piece in it.

OPA

There are currently 527 items listed in eBay under communion tokens....may give you some idea, after reviewed completed auctions, as far as what the going rate it.

eBay communion tokens

johnny9434

thats a new one to me for sure. just what i need now is more stuff

DeliaBug

The 'standard' reference for these is Burzinski - Communion Tokens Of The World. It list 7,700+ tokens with 3,000+ illustrated. There were only 250 made and if you can find one, it will cost north of $500. There was one on E-Bay a while ago that I was watching and it sold for $750. If you are a member, the ANA library has a copy available.

1960NYGiants

<< <i>There are currently 527 items listed in eBay under communion tokens....may give you some idea, after reviewed completed auctions, as far as what the going rate it.

eBay communion tokens >>



Here's a BIN:
St. Cuthbert's