Has anyone here ever collected or even heard of "PRISON MONEY"??

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1630Boston
1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

from the New Jersey Numismatic Journal: Vol. 8 No. 4 via the NNP

Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

Bad transactions with : nobody to date

Comments

  • TennesseeDave
    TennesseeDave Posts: 4,916 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have one or two pieces from the Tennessee State Prison somewhere. It's round like a real coin with a star shaped cutout in the middle with the value on it.

    Trade $'s
  • GaCoinGuy
    GaCoinGuy Posts: 2,867 ✭✭✭✭
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    Neat story. I always thought it was all on paper, I guess.

    According to most prison movies, smokes were the currency of the realm.

    imageimage

  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Not mine, but interesting

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • Fraz
    Fraz Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here’s a neat one:

  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    WAUPUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • bsshog40
    bsshog40 Posts: 4,037 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have had this in my misc stuff box for at least 40 yrs. now. It has O.S.P. on the reverse for Okla St Prison.

    -----------------------------------------
    My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
    U.S. Army Veteran 1/11 ACR Fulda, Germany
  • Project Numismatics
    Project Numismatics Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Perfect example of how to assemble a collection of truly rare and historically significant items on a budget.

  • tokenpro
    tokenpro Posts: 940 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Jerry Zara's 1992 catalog is still the best source outside of the digital world but there have been many new issues and discoveries since then. The good news is that there is a great on-line catalog on prison tokens that is free to download from the Newman Portal at this link: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/589917

    Many prison tokens are surprisingly common such as the plastic sets from North & South Carolina & Idaho and even those metal pieces from Sing Sing in Ossining NY & "The Tombs" in Manhattan. Some states used tokens, some used script only and some did a combination of both over time. Many of the newer issues are vending tokens rather than the work-earned tokens of the past -- the Waupun token above carries a very hopeful price as it is a hoard token. The catalog linked above should answer most questions but let me know of any others you may have.

  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for the info @tokenpro
    boston

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Project Numismatics said:
    Perfect example of how to assemble a collection of truly rare and historically significant items on a budget.

    How? By going to prison? ;)

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Seems a little extreme but I'll think about it. :p

  • COINS MAKE CENTS
    COINS MAKE CENTS Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I know we have sold a ton of it over the years! Every show we set up at, we sell atleast a few pieces. So alot of folks must like it.

    New inventory added daily at Coins Make Cents
    HAPPY COLLECTING


  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Manifest_Destiny said:

    i started with them (i was short some brains for starting that) :s

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    There was a good article on the subject in the TAMS Journal some time in 1981.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thankyou @CaptHenway

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I believe I found the article, thanks again @CaptHenway
    Here is a link if anyone wants more info https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/525589?page=3


    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • renomedphys
    renomedphys Posts: 4,015 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I brought this 1809 to a show a while back and Steve Ellsworth asked me where I got my “prison cent”. He said they got that way from being used to bang on the bars.

    Empty Nest Collection

  • Crypto
    Crypto Posts: 4,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I make it a point to put some money in Realone’s commissary while he is gone to November in forum prison

    11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set

  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 29, 2024 8:28PM
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    I have one of these (fantasy stamped) Silver Certificates that was gifted to me years ago, I will have to see if I can find my "paper currency stash".

    https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n45a11.html

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • cladking
    cladking Posts: 30,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I collect them but haven't been able to accumulate many. I do better with school lunch tokens. These are no more common but people snatch up the prison tokens.

    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • BLUEJAYWAY
    BLUEJAYWAY Posts: 11,795 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Filed down to a sharp edge, those metal pieces could become a sharp weapon to cause some trouble. One could hone an edge by using the cement cell wall as a file to achieve this end.

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".

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