Coin or what

[kenbaker329]

has 50 stamped on both sides, appears to be copper of bronze, not sure. edges of the coin are purferated, in was found in area that has given up mostly 1988 - 1910 coins. this was about 8 inches deep. sandy/gravel fairly firm. anyone know what it is. NO OTHER MARKINGS EXCEPT THE 50 AND EDGES OF COIN ON BOTH SIDES.

 

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[oldplacesnofinds]

It looks to be play money. Possibly from the 50's or 60's?

 

[idahotokens]

These (what I call "generic") trade tokens were sometimes used by general stores that chose not to have customized tokens made with their name and location. The benefit was that they were cheap for the merchant to buy, but the downside was that they could not tell whether the token came from them or from the store down the road.

John in ID

 

[blurr]

These (what I call "generic") trade tokens were sometimes used by general stores that chose not to have customized tokens made with their name and location. The benefit was that they were cheap for the merchant to buy, but the downside was that they could not tell whether the token came from them or from the store down the road.

John in ID

Were trade tokens made in 50 cent denomonations? All the ones I have seen posted are for small coin, 1,5,10 cent tokens.

John

 

[idahotokens]

Typical general store token sets were 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, and $1, but 1¢, $5, and $10 were sometimes used as well. The 1¢ tokens weren't cost effective as they cost about 1¢ to have made, and the higher denomination tokens weren't popular as they represented a LOT of money in those days.

These tokens were used in two primary ways. First, farm people would sell butter and eggs (etc.) to the store and be paid either in cash at a discount since it could be spent anywhere, or in tokens which supposedly could only be spent at the store. Second, if customers needed to borrow money for staples until "the crops come in", the store would loan them money in the form of these tokens. Again, if they loaned cash, the borrower could spend it anywhere, but if they loaned value in the form of tokens, it could supposedly be spent only at the store. I say supposedly because everybody needs to eat, and a lot of other people accepted tokens just the same as cash. Barbers, newspapermen, etc. would often take tokens rather than lose business.

John in ID

 

[blurr]

Typical general store token sets were 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, and $1, but 1¢, $5, and $10 were sometimes used as well. The 1¢ tokens weren't cost effective as they cost about 1¢ to have made, and the higher denomination tokens weren't popular as they represented a LOT of money in those days.

These tokens were used in two primary ways. First, farm people would sell butter and eggs (etc.) to the store and be paid either in cash at a discount since it could be spent anywhere, or in tokens which supposedly could only be spent at the store. Second, if customers needed to borrow money for staples until "the crops come in", the store would loan them money in the form of these tokens. Again, if they loaned cash, the borrower could spend it anywhere, but if they loaned value in the form of tokens, it could supposedly be spent only at the store. I say supposedly because everybody needs to eat, and a lot of other people accepted tokens just the same as cash. Barbers, newspapermen, etc. would often take tokens rather than lose business.

John in ID

Thanks for the information, very interesting.

John