Coal scrip?

Wvhilljack76 · Feb 22, 2019

My brother in law and I was digging an old home site today where he dug this old token(scrip). It says Nichols parish Mononga, WV. On the reverse it says good for 25 in merchandise. Monongah, WV is the site of the worst mine disaster to date in the US. Any help would be appreciated.

creskol · Feb 22, 2019

My guess is a merchant trade token but not a coal scrip token. Very nice one, too!

Wvhilljack76 · Feb 22, 2019

creskol said:
My guess is a merchant trade token but not a coal scrip token. Very nice one, too!

What is a merchant trade token exactly? I’m new to this. 😬

creskol · Feb 22, 2019

A General Merchandise store or establishment. I wonder if there was a store by that name? I tried to Google it, but came up empty handed.

ANTIQUARIAN · Feb 23, 2019

Very nice token find! :thumbsup:

"These ‘tokens’ were issued by merchants in payment for goods with the agreement that they would be redeemed in goods to an equivalent value at the merchants' own outlets. The transaction is therefore one of barter, with the tokens playing a role of convenience, allowing the seller to receive his goods at a rate and time convenient to himself, and the merchant to tie the holder of the token coin to his shop. Trade tokens often gradually changed into barter tokens, as evidenced by the continued circulation of former trade tokens when the need for their use had passed.

In the United States of America Hard times tokens issued from 1832 to 1844 and Civil War tokens issued in the 1860s made up for shortages of official money. In most cases, trade tokens are "good for" tokens, issued by merchants. Generally, they have a merchant's name or initials, sometimes a town and state, and a value legend (such as "good for 5¢" or other denomination) somewhere on the token. Merchants that issued tokens included general stores, grocers, department stores, dairies, meat markets, drug stores, saloons, bars, taverns, barbers, coal mines, lumber mills and many other businesses.

The era of 1870 through 1920 marked the highest use of "trade tokens" in the United States, spurred by the proliferation of small stores in rural areas. There were thousands of small general and merchandise stores all over the United States, and many of them used trade tokens to promote trade and extend credit to customers. Aluminum tokens almost always date after 1890, when low-cost production began."

Dave

idahotokens · Feb 23, 2019

Jack--Your trade token was issued in several denominations, usually 5¢ through $1. Only one denomination is listed in Schenkman's WV Merchant Tokens book, but it is unclear to me whether it is a 1¢ or $1 since it only says Good For / 1 / in / Merchandise. It is fairly small, however, so it is probably the 1¢ one. The note in the book says general store, circa 1900. A 10¢ denomination is listed on tokencatalog with the note, "NICHOLS & PARISH is listed in 1902 DUN listing as a general store". The reference is to a business directory and credit reference book published by the R. G. Dun Company.

NICHOLS & PARISH / MONONGAH, / W. VA. (TC-418448)

I'd be happy to add your piece to the online tokencatalog with permission to use your pics.

John in the Great 208

HuntinDog · Feb 23, 2019

Great Token find Wvhilljack76

and Welcome to TreasureNet

Wvhilljack76 · Feb 24, 2019

idahotokens said:
Jack--Your trade token was issued in several denominations, usually 5¢ through $1. Only one denomination is listed in Schenkman's WV Merchant Tokens book, but it is unclear to me whether it is a 1¢ or $1 since it only says Good For / 1 / in / Merchandise. It is fairly small, however, so it is probably the 1¢ one. The note in the book says general store, circa 1900. A 10¢ denomination is listed on tokencatalog with the note, "NICHOLS & PARISH is listed in 1902 DUN listing as a general store". The reference is to a business directory and credit reference book published by the R. G. Dun Company.

NICHOLS & PARISH / MONONGAH, / W. VA. (TC-418448)

I'd be happy to add your piece to the online tokencatalog with permission to use your pics.

John in the Great 208

That would be great, of course you can use the pictures. Thanks for the information!

idahotokens · Feb 24, 2019

Jack--Here's the listing - Thanks!. I assumed it is 25mm in diameter. If not, please let me know and I can change it. Also, if you want your real name in lights there, please advise.

NICHOLS & PARISH / MONONGAH, / W. VA. (TC-545985)

John

Wvhilljack76 · Feb 25, 2019

idahotokens said:
Jack--Here's the listing - Thanks!. I assumed it is 25mm in diameter. If not, please let me know and I can change it. Also, if you want your real name in lights there, please advise.

NICHOLS & PARISH / MONONGAH, / W. VA. (TC-545985)

John

That is cool but, I can’t take credit for that one. My brother in law found it. I will ask him if he would like his name in lights. He did think it was cool that you posted it.

Wvhilljack76 · Feb 25, 2019

idahotokens said:
Jack--Here's the listing - Thanks!. I assumed it is 25mm in diameter. If not, please let me know and I can change it. Also, if you want your real name in lights there, please advise.

NICHOLS & PARISH / MONONGAH, / W. VA. (TC-545985)

John

His name is Brian Strawderman, it was found at an old home site in Harrison county Wv. Thank you John.

Tim