Years ago, around 1980 while working in gold mining camps in California, I
remember finding these brothel tokens on some sites, and they actually said
"good for one free ride." We matched them to some in collections at the
local history museum.
Linda Derry
Site Director
Old Cahawba
719 Tremont St.
Selma, AL 36701
ph. 334/875-2529
fax. 334/877-4253
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-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of McCourt,
Kathleen
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 5:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tax Token Question
While we are on this topic, I did an excavation on a Virginia City, Montana
brothel 2 summers ago where I found several plausible "tokens" that were
completely rusted and unidentifiable, about the size of quarters but a
little thinner. As I said, they were rusted, with no writing or markings
that could be made out. Has anyone ever encountered objects such as these in
the West or elsewhere?
Kate McCourt, R.P.A.
Montana Heritage Commission
406.843.5247 x204
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jerry
Schaefer
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 4:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tax Token Question
Saloons, restaurants, and even brothels in the West issues their own
tokens.
Regards,
Jerry Schaefer
ASM Affiliates, Inc.
2034 Corte Del Nogal
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760-804-5757 (office)
760-804-5755 (fax)
http://www.asmaffiliates.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of McMahan,
Dave (DNR)
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 2:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tax Token Question
I have seen a number of trade tokens with "Good For 2 1/2 cts." I'm not
sure about the S.H.
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ann
Raab
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 1:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Tax Token Question
I have been excavating a site in western Missouri that has confirmed
occupations
in the mid-19th century as well as the late 19th century and early 20th
century.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a component that went into the
1920s and
1930s, but probably not much later.
I have an item which looks like a tax token, but it doesn't fit into the
mold of
a typical state-issued token. It is copper, very thin (about 1mm) and is
27.2 mm
in diameter (roughly a little more than an inch). The front of the token
is
stamped "Good For 2 1/2 cts." The back of the token simply has an S. H.
stamped
into it. There is nothing that identifies it as being from a particular
state
and there are no other graphics or decoration. Also, in the research I
have done
(very cursory) I have not found any state tokens worth 2 1/2 cents.
The "S. H." made me think of S&H Green Stamps, but I am not sure if they
had any
tokens like these. I would think the company name would be more obvious
on such
an item. There were also corporate coal mining interests in the area in
the late
19th and early 20th centuries. I wasn't sure if this could be a kind of
"company
store" token.
Any information or ideas would be welcome!
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