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Why do some token have holes in them?
yspsales
Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭✭✭
Why do some token have holes in them?
Kinda stupid question... but would like to know. Guessing to contrast legal tender.
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Not sure about that example but most tokens with a hole in the usual spot around 12K are there because the token or medal was meant to be worn with a ribbon attached.
Probably because it makes it more difficult to counterfeit since it requires a special punch to make a hole of the type used.
Store owners regarded these as cash and took precautions to avoid being cheated.
Could also show a cancelation punch. A lot of tokens are rare, because the owners of the business buried or destroyed the tokens rather than continue to accept them in trade.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
With scrip, which is what you have there, each company had their own design often with a number or symbol punch and some were solid. Companies that had multiple stores would often have a different punch design or number for each store.
Here’s a pic of some Scrip from Lincoln Hill, PA. and a few others just as examples.
I grew up in this little village... and never recall any store tokens from here. I guess with the restricted market/population they were not necessary. Yes, I have googled looking for them... no results. Cheers, RickO
Thank you!
A good day when you can learn something new!
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Almost like cattle branding ...
This piece, which was from Martin Van Buren's 1840 re-election campaign still has the original string, which was used to hang it on a shirt or coat, with it.
All but one or two examples of this 1864 Lincoln piece, which is also listed as a Civil War token, are holed. This one still has the ring with it, which is unusual, but I have never seen one that was attached to anything else. This piece also has its original goldish colored plating or coating.
Great info here to learn from..........I learned something,
thanks all
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I always thought it was for the wearing. The Virginia City, NV 1959 centennial celebration medal came both ways, one with a hole at 12 for a chain and one with no hole. The no hole examples are scarce if not rare as they were given to dignitaries only and not sold to the public as the holed ones were.
I used to have both examples but don't know where they are now, perhaps I sold them or pulled a @FredWeinberg and lost them.
At least for merchant trade tokens (“good for” tokens), it was not uncommon to have various shaped holes in the tokens as a design feature. Yes, some were counter-punched after use, but many more just had it as part of the design.
Do you think any of them made the holes so they could remelt the metal after they punched them out to save money and be able to make more tokens?
Mr_Spud
Here's one that I really like:
Board of Trade, Nome, Alaska - Good For 12½ in Trade
These were not made of precious metals I doubt it was worth the effort.
I'm a big fan of scrip tokens and all these various punch designs.
Of note, the tokens would often have blank areas on them designed to be punched in those locations.
To learn more, checkout the National Scrip Collectors Association (NSCA):
http://nationalscripcollectors.org/index.php/about-nsca/
That’s an awesome Alaska token. Must be super rare.