Toughie Token ID (SOLVED, pic heavy)

[gtoast99]

Okay folks, not much left on this, so I don't hold a lot of hope. But I've seen things ID'ed with less, so you never know. I'll be back to post more on this later, but for starters, any initial impressions?
(new pics below)

 

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[creskol]

Re: Toughie Token ID

Maybe it is an "El Refesco" soda pop token?

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Re: Toughie Token ID

Does the back say 1917? Could be in reference to something military related.
Or not.
Carl

 

[diggummup]

Re: Toughie Token ID

I think it is some sort of baseball commemorative token If you look at the front in the middle (when I blow it up) I can see a figure holding a bat in the getting ready to swing position (actually all I see is the bat part), he would be a leftie though as the bat is on the right side of the token. On the reverse you can see two semi-circular marks on either side of the token which make it resemble a baseball. One at the top where the "date?" is and another at the bottom directly opposite. There is alot of writing with numbers also intermixed in the text on this side also, maybe stats?. I may be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. You should try electrolysis or at least get it soaking it in olive oil. I think someone with the right editing program can bring the features out more on this one.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID

I think it is some sort of baseball commemorative token If you look at the front in the middle (when I blow it up) I can see a figure holding a bat in the getting ready to swing position (actually all I see is the bat part), he would be a leftie though as the bat is on the right side of the token. On the reverse you can see two semi-circular marks on either side of the token which make it resemble a baseball. One at the top where the "date?" is and another at the bottom directly opposite. There is alot of writing with numbers also intermixed in the text on this side also, maybe stats?. I may be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. You should try electrolysis or at least get it soaking it in olive oil. I think someone with the right editing program can bring the features out more on this one.

I agree baseball...

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID

Thanks so much for the help!!

@creskol, I can totally se "EL-RE..." on the coin. couldn't find much info on those tokens though.

@Curbdigger, Yup, I see 1917 too. Didn't want to say anything until someone else saw it first

@diggumup, I hadn't noticed the baseball connection before!! I'm pretty sure the "bat" is the long line on the letter "y", which would explain why it's a leftie. And I think it's the end of a word that "...ITY" or "...NITY".

I'll try to get some pics and then get it soaking in olive oil.
Thanks again everybody!!

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID

Okay, so here's what I've got from the new pics.

You all were SPOT ON with the baseball theme. On closer inspection, you can see the "stitching" of the ball. I also zoomed in on the "1917", and you may be able to make out some more letters there. The back certainly has a lot of writing, and looks like many numbers and at least one month. So stats sounds about right.

On the front, I zoomed in the "EL-RE..." section. What do you think? Opposite this, I think I might make out "DEALER" or something similar?

Lastly, in the center of that side. I think I was wrong with the N, I'm pretty sure it's an L. Which would make it "_ _ LITY". Quality?

Hopefully someone can help ID it with this new info. Thanks so much!!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, pic heavy)

Here are the major events of 1917. Only one important June event is listed by Wikipedia. Lefty Babe Ruth was involved but as a pitcher. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1917_in_baseball

I google search 1917 baseball token but cant find it. I wonder if we are seeing the wrong date.

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, pic heavy)

Did some photoshopping of some of the pics, and picked up a new word. "1917 Schedule"
This oughta help greatly

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, pic heavy)

Did some photoshopping of some of the pics, and picked up a new word. "1917 Schedule"
This oughta help greatly

Cool. Its a schedule token. That should help a lot. It seemed like a lot of dates. But what team? The other side is advertisement.

Heres one for Milwaukee Braves 1956
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ain_0&rt=nc&si=2ZG7T3FX2gvpEZPxSuCZKxOnSWc%3D

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, pic heavy)

That's the question!!

So that would mean this token is actually from 1917, and not just a commemorative or something? That'd make it my second oldest "coin" find, lol.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Heres one same style as yours 1928. http://forums.whiteselectronics.com/showthread.php?20391-Anybody-ever-see-a-baseball-token-like-this

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Wow, thanks for all the help! So it looks like the words above the date are the league, and on the bottom of the coin is the team location. I'd been trying to read the top part looking for a team. No way I'd be able to ID this coin without the forum, thanks!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Your team is where the hole is punched out. What town are you in?

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Here's what I can do for the "team" area. Thanks a lot, kid.
I live in Mebane, NC.

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Thanks a lot, kid.

Just to clarify, that's directed at the kid who punched a hole through the team name a century ago, not at you :-P
I appreciate all the help

 

[gtoast99]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

Okay, last post before I head off to work.

Above the date should be the League name. Right above the 9, I'm pretty sure I can see an N. Can't see what's before it, but before THAT looks like "OL" making it "... OL_N_". Maybe it's just my brain filling in the blanks, but does anybody else get CAROLINA as a possibility for the first word above the date? That would make it the Carolina League, which was around in 1917 as the "North Carolina State League":
http://minorleaguesource.com/northcarolinastate0817.htm

If that's the case, what team? Well, looking at the bottom (and going by the 1928 Birmingham example posted) it should read:
(CITY NAME)
AT
HOME
I can see the "home", and the "at" would be inside the hole. So what city? The first letter is sortof rounded in shape. This rules out Asheville, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem, leaving Charlotte, Durham, and Greensboro. Now look at the far right, the end of the city name. It doesn't look like Charlotte, or Durham. But I can see what might be "ORO". The letter spacing is right to put the correct number of letters between G and ORO to fill in Greensboro. Greensboro also happens to be the closest city to here that played in the North Carolina State League.

In my opinion, we have a match. It's the home-team schedule for the 1917 season of the Greensboro Patriots minor league team in the North Carolina State League. Thought, opinions, critiques? Id' love to hear if you can follow my method, or if my mind is seeing more than is really there.

Thanks everybody, I didn't think there was any chance of ID'ing this coin. This forum is simply amazing at that.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Toughie Token ID (updated, partly solved, pic heavy)

I think the credit goes to diggummup on this one.

Yes I saw the BORO but I was thinking PittsBURG but it should be spelled PittsBURGH.


GreensBORO seems to fit better but I dont see the S.

 

[gtoast99]

Thanks so much to everyone for helping, particularly Diggumup and Bigcypresshunter. I never would have guessed baseball from the start, what a great observation diggumup. And without thinking that, I doubt I'd have been able to read "schedule", which of course opened the door for BCH to post that 1928 token in the same style. Knowing what to look for in what place, the league and team city followed quickly behind.

I do believe, unless their are any further objections, that I'm going to call this token 100% SOLVED!!! You all rock.

Interesting side note - not all the games on the coin were actually played. The league was disbanded mid-season due to the war. What an interesting nexus in the development of American history and culture in this coin!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Sounds like you did your research. Did you check the Negro Leagues?