This does belong in the Tokens & Tags section.
Unfortunately, we will probably never be able to say for certain where this token is from - the people at the Hyde Park Hotel Pharmacy who had it made probably figured that EVERYBODY knows where they were and saw no need to put the town and state on the token. Well, time and distance blurs the view, but it would appear to be from Chicago. At least I can say (for almost certain) that it was manufactured by the Albert Pick Co. of Chicago as their diework is pretty distinctive.
The original Hyde Park Hotel was at 53rd Street near the lakeshore and it burned down in 1877. The hotel was replaced in 1887 by a new Hyde Park Hotel on 51st - this one lasted until 1963 and is where I suppose this token saw duty in the pharmacy. The "Hyde Park" name was very popular and many businesses, neighborhoods, and other things were named for it across the country, so it is really impossible to tell whether this token was from one of those places or from the Chicago one.
The date this token was put into use is probably ca. 1910. The purpose was one I have had fun imagining. My theory is that it was twofold - first as a bit of incentive to have prescriptions filled at their business, these may have been given to prospective customers to use (much as modern-day drugstores use coupons, etc.). The second part is a little more unusual. Imagine you were a pharmacist working for a busy pharmacy and a customer comes in with a prescription to be filled. The customer is hanging over the counter watching your every move and perhaps trying to tell you of all his/her ailments and wanting free advice. You have several orders to be filled ahead of this customer, plus you have all your other duties to fill and time is short. Wouldn't it be nice if you could reach in your cash register and get one of these tokens, give it to the bothersome customer, and send him off to the soda fountain to have a glass of soda? I think it was a small price to pay for some peace and quiet.
Nice find!
John in ID
