1863 Civil War Store Card Tokens

[BomberJohn]

Haven't posted here in a while, but read the posts most every day. Thought I would share these. They are kinda neat.

I dug these two Civil War era store card tokens in a hay field in Massachusetts. They were stuck together by a chunk of rust through the holes. At first I thought they were a couple dimes stuck together, but something didn't look right. Well after a lot of cleaning and seperating, this is what I found.

Here is a little info about them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_War_token

The first is cool because it actual says "UNION/1863". No guessing there. It is for a company called Charnley in Providence RI.

The second is for a company called "H.M.Lane Lamps, Kerosene OIL & Co." in New York.

Thanks for looking.
John

 

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[jcooking]

Very cool finds, those are awesome!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Awesome finds~!

Who cleaned those?

 

[teleman 2525]

different finds

 

[Tenspeed]

Neat finds! Did they show up as dimes?

 

[BomberJohn]

Neat finds! Did they show up as dimes?

penny/dime as I recall.

 

[Bramblefind]

Great finds!

I checked quickly in the 1863 Providence directory and the Charnley token looks to be associated with a saloon-

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Very nice token finds there BJ!
I really like this piece, the star symbol reminds me
of the oil lamp company Holmes. Booth & Haydens.
They used a similar star on their early lamp burners.

Here is an example of a HB&H burner thumbwheel for comparison.
Pretty close resemblance don't you think?

 

[BomberJohn]

Great finds!

I checked quickly in the 1863 Providence directory and the Charnley token looks to be associated with a saloon-

Very nice find Bramblefind! Thanks for the additional information!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Sweet recoveries That is the coolest token I've seen

 

[trixie charger]

Very nice, reminds me of old company script from the coal mines.

 

[Wldbil]

Very cool finds!!!

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

I live them store cards

 

[mcmurphi]

Those are just the best finds...Congrats. Amazing really.

 

[CRUSADER]

Clearly they had a steel loop which may have held them on a chain around the neck (1 option). Or on the end of a homemade fob watch chain or other options.

What interests me is the story that we maybe unable to unpick a little (although it will be mostly theory)

Why did he/she hole these particular tokens? I'm pretty sure by putting a hole in them that they would not longer be acceptable as a token, so he/she must have liked them for some reason?

The Token stores are roughly 200 miles apart - What does this tell us? Was there any CW movement between the 2 cities? Thats assuming that the same person collected them from each place, of course its possible they got together another way, but its an avenue to explore?

Come guys, those with CW experience, lets put some life into these interest finds? Whats your thoughts?