token

[fjudd94]

I am trying to ID this token. I found it in Ohio. I appreciate the Help.

 

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[jlowe]

It's a trade nickel. If I'm not mistaken, they were minted by large businesses when the dollar went south during the depression.

 

[lordmarcovan]

Though I suppose the Depression era is a possibility, it looks older than that, to me.

But I dunno nothin' on this one, for sure. Except that I like it.

 

[Shamus]

A quick Google search for trade tokens turned up some interesting information. A lot of general stores and saloons started giving tokens in change in the late 1800s. The value of the token was slightly higher than the change in cash would be. The idea was to get the customer's repeat business, by giving him tokens that could only be redeemed at the one business.

An example: a drink in a saloon ran 15 cents or two for 25 cents. If someone ordered a shot and plunked down a quarter he had his choice of getting a dime back or a 12 1/2 cent token that was good for another drink. The customer could get the second drink of his "two for" the next day, and the bar gained a regular customer.

Your token is unusual because it doesn't say the name of the business, just "H"; nor does it say what it's good for (good for 3 what?). Aparently that business was so well known in that area that "everyone knew" what H stood for and what you got 3 of.

 

[lordmarcovan]

I'm definitely more of the "late 1800s" opinion on this particular piece. Funny how the wreath around the 3 sort of resembles that on the 2-cent piece, vaguely. At least that's what it made me think of.