2 good luck tokens

Clad the Impaler · Apr 13, 2010

Hi everyone. I found these 2 good luck tokens while hunting a Chicago park yesterday. The park isn't that old, dating to the late '40s/early '50s. I think these may be made of zinc; they are light and soft. One was damaged by my Lesche. Both were touching each other in the same hole. Found about 1 1/2 to 2 inches down. Token has a 5 pointed star in the center, kinda like a police star. One side says good luck and has a 4 leaf clover. The other side has a horseshoe and what looks like a comb(?). Anyone know what these are, what they're made of, how old they are?? Pics below. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

garbageman · Apr 13, 2010

Those aluminum tokens were popular at fairs, museums and places like that. You put your money in and you could have what you want stamped on it (usually your name, address or school). They were good luck pieces to carry in your pocket. I'm not sure when they started making them but I know they still had them not too long ago. -Garbageman

ivan salis · Apr 13, 2010

these are self made good luck tokens --theres was a machine that you put money in then you made your own token from aluminum blanks --by depressing the letters which punched the letters into the coin * they were fairly common -- often they have peoples names and or dates on them that the people "punched" in