Questions about 1862 Dated Alaska 2 Toowah*Update*

bigjpst

A couple of years ago I was looking for presentations for the Glendale Coin Club and I ran across a video about Christopher Bechtler that sparked an interest for me in territorial gold and silver issues.



Link to the Bechtler page with story and video



I enjoy the history of these items, and I always look at them in hand when possible at auction lot viewing etc. I am no numismatic scholar, but I do enjoy reading about coins and tokens of all kinds. Usually the issues that interest me are far out of my financial reach, but recently I purchased an Alaska 2 Toowah that is certified as (Gilt Original) on the label, and listed as "Gold Original" on the cert verification page ATS. I know the easy answer is to send it back ATS and have them correct it, but hey that wouldn’t be as fun.



When I was looking up some background information on the token I found that there seemed to be at least 3 different versions of these tokens, 5 and 7 star reverse and possibly two different restrike issues, both in gold and gilt brass. I scoured past auction results on Heritage, Coinfacts and even ebay to find out if I could determine by auction descriptions and photos which the one I planned to purchase actually was. The dates on the reverse and dentils were the only real stand out thing I could see from photos. The good news for me was that the designs seemed to match those of tokens listed as Gold Original, and one listed as N. Joseph Issue. Both with much higher selling prices than I planned to bid.

Many of the previously sold coins on Heritage listed the weight in gold, either 1.33gm or 1.24gm on the label (great how am I going to figure that out from photos) and a catalog number of Gould-Bressett 108, and many of the ones listed as gilt/brass had a Circ 1940 notation on the label. Well, armed with the little info I had, I bid on the token and won. Now I have it in hand and although there is no way I’m cracking it to weigh it, at least I can do a bit more digging.













I found a pamphlet and a hardback book on the bay “Alaska’s Coinage Through The Years” by Maurice M. Gould and Kenneth Bressett and purchased the less expensive pamphlet hoping that it would help me figure out all that I needed to know. What I did figure out was that there is one passage in the book on these tokens GB 108. 5 stars and gold. Struck originally in the 1909-1915 era and originally sold at the Alaska Yukon Expo in Seattle and later in what is listed as the 1915 Expo in the book, and I would speculate this is referring to the Pan Pac.



Now after this long but hopefully not too boring story I get to my questions for those that may know more about this issue, or someone who owns the hardbound version of this book.



1. Does the hardbound version of this book give more info than the one passage about the 2 Toowah? And if so, does it give information about the restrikes and original variances?

2. Is there a way to tell which token this is without actually weighing it?

3. Is there another reference about these tokens that would give more information? (I already used my friend google, and looked in Ralau, but hey I could have missed something.)

Thanks

grip

I like the token a lot...Why cant you weigh the coin in the slab and
deduct the weight of the slab?

bigjpst

Originally posted by: grip

I like the token a lot...Why cant you weigh the coin in the slab and

deduct the weight of the slab?

I thought about that, but the small difference in weights seemed like it would be inconclusive. Especially since I don't know exactly which inner ring they use. Dime size etc

lordmarcovan

What a cool piece. I had never seen or heard of these.

DNADave

Might be able to use a metal detector over it?

bigjpst

Originally posted by: DNADave

Might be able to use a metal detector over it?

That could work for the brass vs gold issues, but probably not between the two gold issues.

I could have someone analyze it but I think I found online that one of the issues is 10 karat, the other roughly 12. I just don't know anyone local I can ask.

MorganMan94

1.32 grams, at least according to this listing. I have never seen one in hand, but it sure is a nice looking token.



http://www.goldbergcoins.com/v...talog/id/18/lot/43037/

LanceNewmanOCC

.

cool.

.

USMarine6

Nothing boring about this post. Thanks for posting

ricko

Those are interesting....had never heard of them. What does Too Wah mean?? Cheers, RickO

bigjpst

Originally posted by: ricko

Those are interesting....had never heard of them. What does Too Wah mean?? Cheers, RickO

I believe it means Tusks for the two tusks on the reverse



Edit I reread the info at



Calgoldcoin.com



and Too Wah it states means two ivories

illini420

Very cool looking piece!

bigjpst

If you look at the reverse dates (1910) on my token, you see they are small and they appear to be had cut. There also appears to be retooling of the letters in Toowah on the reverse. These match one of the coins I previously found on Heritage listed as Nathan Joseph original. The only problem is that there is another coin on Heritage listed as N. Joseph original with a different set of numerals.



All photos courtesy of Heritage.



Same reverse as my token N. Joseph







Different reverse N. Joseph







Gilt Restrike









But I can't find reference to the date difference. Here is the most recent sale on Heritage with the same 5 stars reverse and numeral in the date that match my token.



Heritage 2 Toowah

thebeav

I have had hundreds of Cal gold tokens over the years, and I believe that I have a gilt/brass 2 Toowah somewhere. Just judging from the appearance of your token, I would say, with a high degree of certainty, that it's indeed gold.

bigjpst

Originally posted by: thebeav

I have had hundreds of Cal gold tokens over the years, and I believe that I have a gilt/brass 2 Toowah somewhere. Just judging from the appearance of your token, I would say, with a high degree of certainty, that it's indeed gold.

Thank you for the reply. I am pretty confident that you are right, but because I have come across so many different varieties I am still curious if there is another possible reference on these. Or if the only difference would be the weight.

Thanks to all that replied.

Jackthecat1

A fascinating piece. Thanks for sharing it.

DNADave

Is it too late to ask..
Those are walrus tusks, right?

bigjpst

Originally posted by: DNADave

Is it too late to ask..

Those are walrus tusks, right?

Yes I believe they are

bigjpst

Well I guess the consensus was right. I resubmitted the coin to NGC at the ANA in Anaheim under mechanical error service. Just got it back today.

ElKevvo

That is a neat piece...thanks for the education!



K

LotsoLuck

That's awesome. Fun post

illini420

Very cool!

ricko

and Too Wah it states means two ivories

Thanks for the information and congratulations on a great gold token... Cheers, RickO

grip

Great post.Thanks.