Popular Post Mr_Spud Posted January 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 9, 2021 (edited) Joseph N.T. Levick commissioned George Lovett to design a large group of tokens not only for his tobacco business, but also for his personal collection. Levick was a lifelong smoker who lived to the age of 80. There are many mulings of this famous obverse and reverse with other dies to create rarities for the avid collector, but the above piece is the original advertising card and probably the first group made for Levick by Lovett. Preeminent in the field of tokens, J.N.T. Levick assembled a marvelous collection of these pieces during the late 19th century, while at the same time compiling definitive lists of Hard Times tokens and other issues. He also studied the Large Cents of 1793 and contributed the photographic plate to Sylvester S. Crosby's American Journal of Numismatics article which appeared in April 1869. Collections and groups of coins bearing his name were sold by various dealers from 1859 to 1908. One sale held by Bangs, Merwin & Company in 1865 was particularly notable as was a later offering featuring his token collection. The Levick pedigree on a Large Cent or token is at once distinguished and elusive. Levick lived in or near Philadelphia in the 1850s where he was an active coin collector and chief bookkeeper for Freeman & Simpson. He was a member of the Philadelphia Numismatic Society, the first numismatic club in the United States. In 1859 he visited New York City where he attended auction sales, one conducted by August B. Sage. He later moved to New York where he worked as a banker, a dealer in government securities, a broker, and a trader of gold and silver. In 1860 Levick began to issue tokens made by George H. Lovett. He participated in the formation of the New York Numismatic Society in 1864. Soon afterwards that organization merged with the American Numismatic Society to form the American Numismatic and Archeological Society, forerunner of the current American Numismatic Society. Levick made a proposal in 1866 that led to the establishment and publication of the American Journal of Numismatics. During the Civil War Levick served as a lieutenant in New Yorks Sickles Brigade as an observer in a reconnaissance balloon. Edited January 9, 2021 by Mr_Spud To add historic info RonnieR131, Just Bob, brg5658 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 John Davidson had a Grocery/Confectioners/Cafe from 1900 to 1906 in Port Gibson, MS. The newspaper excerpts are from June 4, 1903 issue of the Port Gibson Reveille. This token is an example of a conservation attempt gone terribly wrong. I decided to soak this token for several months in olive oil, along with a few LIncoln and Indian cents. Apparently, the metals reacted with the oil and each other, and things went all weird. It came out with light and dark areas, and lots of different colors. The orange area on the reverse is where one of the Indians was resting on the token. Lesson learned: soak tokens and coins one per container. RonnieR131 and Fenntucky Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brg5658 Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 Here is my date set of the Upper Canada St. George Half-penny Tokens - they were issued in years 1850, 1852, 1854, and 1857. It took me 8 years to put together a nice date set of half pennies. I have a couple dups, but I'm okay with that. RonnieR131, Just Bob, Ray, USMC and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr_Spud Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) Would this count as a token? Squared Quarter, a computer generated circle-to-square projection of the U.S 25c piece, was released in 1983/84. The press referred to it as a satirical coin-token, pop art piece, coined cartoon, sci-fi coin, etc. It gained nationwide attention as a "coined satire" of Reaganomics. President Reagan's attempt to bring Supply-Siders and Monetarists, two mutually exclusive economic schools, together in his fiscal policy, was seen by many observers as trying to square the circle.In the numismatic press the Squared Quarter was recognized as a unique technical achievement, the first square coin-item with sharp corners and serrated edges struck in a die with collar, and the first coin-token designed with the aid of a computer, (before the Personal Computer).it was issued in two limited .999 silver editions, a 1/4 oz.piece and a 1/2 oz. version. The 1/4 oz. edition was limited to 1300 pieces and the 1/2 oz. edition to 600. In addition 330 pieces were struck in nickelsiver as promotional samples.The Squared Quarter was produced and sold by Square Deal Productions, Inc. New York and minted by the Medallic Art Company in Danbury, CT. At the end of 1984, Square Deal Productions was dissolved. The dies were disabled and donated to the Smithsonian Museum, where they are permanently archived in the National Numismatic Collection. Edited January 19, 2021 by Mr_Spud Add info brg5658, Henri Charriere, RonnieR131 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenntucky Mike Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Sure, I'd call it a token. That's pretty awesome! Have not seen one of those before, thanks for posting it. I particularly like the Obv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Spud Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Thanks 🌞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Just Bob Posted January 20, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2021 History from the Singing River Library digital archives: International Paper Company was formed on January 31, 1898 when eighteenpulp and paper mills across the Northeastern United States joined togetherunder one name. In the 1920's, International Paper was seeking to diversify its business whichled to the creation of the Southern Kraft Division which spanned fromArkansas to South Carolina.In 1928, International Paper purchased a local mill in Laine (now Kreole),Moss Point, Mississippi from Southern Paper Company. Not only did International Paper provide jobs for many South Mississippiansduring the depression and thereafter, but it even did its part during World WarII to help ships that were unable to dock and deliver supplies by developingspecially constructed and strengthened kraft paper cartons, of which MossPoint mill did its part to produce, to allow the supplies to be dumpedoverboard and carried to shore by the tide, thus allowing the supplies to reachland intact. Unfortunately, the Moss Point mill was short lived. Eighty-eight years afterits completion in 1913, under ownership of Southern Paper Company, the millwas closed in 2001 due to high facility costs and the need to align productionwith its customer demand. The picture of the plant is from the 50th anniversary celebration open house and company picnic, June, 1948 The tokens are from the paper company cafeteria. The sizes are comparable to US coins of the same denomination - possibly for use in vending machines. Ray, USMC, RonnieR131, Fenntucky Mike and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Just Bob Posted January 27, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 27, 2021 This company is believed to have been a vehicle rental agency that was located in Jackson in the 1920s. Note the three digit phone number. I have not been able to find any information about it. The location on South Farish street is now a vacant lot. Two denominations are known to exist - I have examples of both. Ray, USMC, Fenntucky Mike and RonnieR131 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zadok Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 maybe information in the local city directories which the local library may have?...just a thought... RonnieR131 and Just Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 The Hinton & Backstrom Lumber Company operated a mill at Richton, MS from 1919 - 1924. They also had a turpentine plant at New Augusta. Tokens were issued in denominations of $.50, $.10, and $.05. All are listed as unique. This example was dug near Richton by a local detectorist. (Note the corrosion and pitting - especially on the obverse.) I drove to his house to look at this one, and several other tokens that he had found. I didn't buy anything, because he was asking more than I wanted to pay. A year or so later, he listed this one as a BIN on Ebay. Apparently, I was the only buyer who wasn't turned off by the pitting, and I was able to pick it up for less than $20. Fenntucky Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brg5658 Posted February 3, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2021 Woods020, Mr_Spud, Fenntucky Mike and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gluggo Posted February 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2021 Do not really know much about this token but here is the description. Anybody know anything about it’s history please update and TYIA. "1862" Fantasy Civil War Token Silver Dime Army Navy Circa 1950's Mr_Spud, Just Bob and RonnieR131 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mr_Spud Posted February 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) Edited February 8, 2021 by Mr_Spud Added more pictures RonnieR131, Fenntucky Mike and Just Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 In 1918, Miss Ophelia Fox opened a cigar store in the lobby of the Carrol Hotel in Vicksburg, MS, at the age of 48. Ten years later, she married H.J Lesser, and continued to run the store for two more years. Unfortunately, after waiting almost 60 years to wed, she passed away in 1937, after only 9 years of marriage. I posted a black and white picture of the hotel in an earlier post. Here is a colorized version: Fenntucky Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brg5658 Posted February 23, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 23, 2021 Fenntucky Mike, Just Bob and RonnieR131 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 2 hours ago, brg5658 said: Nice. It's even got a date! Love that "Let Trade & Commerce Flourish." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 The National park Cigar stand was in the lobby of the National Park Hotel in Vicksburg, MS from 1913 to 1927. The token is listed as an R10 (unique). RonnieR131 and Fenntucky Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenntucky Mike Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Let's kick it off early today. Sherwood's Smoke House, South Haven MI. One could conceivably plunk one of these down and get a nice corona in exchange. Business directory of South Haven and surrounding are from 1898 Michigan Bureau of Labor 1903 Inspection of Factories Index. One male employee (presumably the owner), no female employees and no employees under the age of 10. RonnieR131 and Just Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Spud Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Just Bob and Fenntucky Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 8 minutes ago, Mr_Spud said: Okay, in the center of the bottom view, it says: "F. W. HALL. WHITEHALL. N.Y." Along the rim, at top, it says, "TO PURIFY THE BLOOD and along the bottom rim, USE ATHERTON'S PILLS." (provided as an aid to those whose magnification ability is either insufficient or lacking.) Interesting find; hard to believe the obverse and reverse are one and the same coin. Just Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex in PA. Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 I'll just post one of the CW tokens/coins I have: NGC MS65 Just Bob and Fenntucky Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Spud Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 2 hours ago, Quintus Arrius said: Okay, in the center of the bottom view, it says: "F. W. HALL. WHITEHALL. N.Y." Along the rim, at top, it says, "TO PURIFY THE BLOOD and along the bottom rim, USE ATHERTON'S PILLS." (provided as an aid to those whose magnification ability is either insufficient or lacking.) Interesting find; hard to believe the obverse and reverse are one and the same coin. It’s the same coin. Here’s another example of the same token with a little more info and it’s easier to read both sides of the token https://www.ancientcoinsandcollectibles.com/shop/exonomia-tokens/ny-whitehall-athertons-pills-ny-985-a/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Just Bob Posted March 3, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2021 Henry Gorham Lowery (1901-1963) came to Mississippi from Missouri, and established a cotton plantation near Indianola, MS. His brother and part owner, John J., lived in Michigan, and eventually sold his part of the plantation to H.G. This token was used in the plantation commissary. Henri Charriere, Woods020, Fenntucky Mike and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Bob this thread is amazing. Your tokens and back story are great. It’s inspired me to start picking up a few for the neighboring state as well. I’ve been looking, and I have only found one book specifically dedicated to tokens of Alabama written in 1995 by Roy Wood. Are you aware of any other references that may be applicable? Is the guidebook of American tokens fairly comprehensive? What do you use? Thanks! Just Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted March 3, 2021 Author Share Posted March 3, 2021 4 hours ago, Woods020 said: Bob this thread is amazing. Your tokens and back story are great. It’s inspired me to start picking up a few for the neighboring state as well. I’ve been looking, and I have only found one book specifically dedicated to tokens of Alabama written in 1995 by Roy Wood. Are you aware of any other references that may be applicable? Is the guidebook of American tokens fairly comprehensive? What do you use? Thanks! I mostly use the only book written specifically about Mississippi tokens, called Brozenes and Doodlum - Private Money in Mississippi, by George P. Chatham. It was painstakingly researched, and has pencil drawings of almost every token that is listed. There have been quite a few new discoveries since it was written in 1990, so my copy has lots of additions written in. I also use Tokencatalog.com. It accepts contributions from anyone who is registered, so it is possible that some of the entries have not been researched fully, but the listings are extensive. For example, it lists over 4600 tokens from Alabama. If you want to branch out further than just your home state, I and others can suggest some books on whichever area you might like to pursue. There are books that cover specialty areas like coal or lumber tokens, transportation and parking tokens, Hard Times, Civil War, U.S. Merchant, etc. Ebay usually has lots of Alabama tokens for sale, and you can check sold listings to get an idea of current pricing. Also, I have found tokens at coins shops and shows, antique stores, flea markets, and auctions. Thank you for the kind words, by the way. I appreciate them. And, I appreciate all of the posters who have contributed to the thread. Fenntucky Mike and Woods020 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 I finally found a copy of the Alabama specific guide book I had mentioned. Apparently it has been out of print for some time and not easily found. I got a used copy off Amazon of all places. Thanks again for your help! Look for me to chime in on token Tuesday from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 23 hours ago, Mr_Spud said: It’s the same coin. Here’s another example of the same token with a little more info and it’s easier to read both sides of the token https://www.ancientcoinsandcollectibles.com/shop/exonomia-tokens/ny-whitehall-athertons-pills-ny-985-a/ (Minor perhaps to you, but more than memorable to be, the site you refer fellow members to when soliciting your email carries the re-assuring banner I have never before encountered: "No Spam Guarantee." Many thanks for the link, and your lovely tokens as shared and showcased here.) Mr_Spud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 21 hours ago, Just Bob said: Henry Gorham Lowery (1901-1963) came to Mississippi from Missouri, and established a cotton plantation near Indianola, MS. His brother and part owner, John J., lived in Michigan, and eventually sold his part of the plantation to H.G. This token was used in the plantation commissary. To me Indianola, MS. will forever conjure the remarkable elocution of fellow Ole Miss student (nee Gayle Gresham) who first taught me the intricacies of the English language and the proper way to answer the telephone: "This is (s)he." What an education! Very nice high-denomination token. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 21 hours ago, Just Bob said: I mostly use the only book written specifically about Mississippi tokens, called Brozenes and Doodlum - Private Money in Mississippi, by George P. Chatham. It was painstakingly researched, and has pencil drawings of almost every token that is listed. There have been quite a few new discoveries since it was written in 1990, so my copy has lots of additions written in. I also use Tokencatalog.com. It accepts contributions from anyone who is registered, so it is possible that some of the entries have not been researched fully, but the listings are extensive. For example, it lists over 4600 tokens from Alabama. If you want to branch out further than just your home state, I and others can suggest some books on whichever area you might like to pursue. There are books that cover specialty areas like coal or lumber tokens, transportation and parking tokens, Hard Times, Civil War, U.S. Merchant, etc. Ebay usually has lots of Alabama tokens for sale, and you can check sold listings to get an idea of current pricing. Also, I have found tokens at coins shops and shows, antique stores, flea markets, and auctions. Thank you for the kind words, by the way. I appreciate them. And, I appreciate all of the posters who have contributed to the thread. Bob, Another area I think that would speak to me is trade tokens related to pharmacy/apothecary/druggist. I have a long family history of working in pharmacy in one way or another, and I’m an executive at one of the largest pharma companies today. So these would speak to me for sure. I actually have a ton of antique apothecary items my grandfather left me. If you have any suggestions on guide books related to tokens this subject matter? Henri Charriere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woods020 Posted March 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 9, 2021 (edited) Black Diamond Coal Mining Company Birmingham (Jefferson County) Alabama Edited March 9, 2021 by Woods020 Alex in PA., Fenntucky Mike and Just Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...