W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

[lastleg]

W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

My buddy called me 3 hours ago saying he dug a token
that was blank on one side and said "W & C good for one
drink at the bar." This is in Northern New Mexico. Anyone
got an idea if it is rare?

lastleg

 

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[idahotokens]

Re: W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

Well, yes, it is rare. Rare as in "selddom occurring or found". But don't confuse rare with valuable. Why? Because of lack of demand for "maverick" tokens that have not been reliably attributed to a specific location. There are thousands of "initials only" mavericks out there and only a few have been proven with only a reasonable doubt to some specific location. Upping this particular one on the value scale will take some luck and research in the directories and other resources for the area where it was found. That is assuming it did not travel hundreds or thousands of miles before getting itself lost or discarded. Even if you were to find a 1900-ish business directory for the location where this was found and find a saloon operated by a partnership whose last names start with the letters, that does not prove where the token was used. It just raises the probablity.
John in ID

 

[lastleg]

Re: W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

Thank for the reply, John. My friend has found valuable ($600)
range tokens in this vicinity. The nearby townsite dates from
1860's. It isn't listed for this site in Richard's Tokens but like you
say maybe an early maverick. I am not able to name the site.
He is staying for 3 more days so he might come up with more
tokens.

Lastleg

 

[intimer]

Re: W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

i can't find anything on the token.
sure like to help id a maverick.

idahotokens is correct about mavericks.

i would add --- a token with the town name is pricier than an id'd maverick token.

 

[lastleg]

Re: W & C brass token found in New Mexico today

Update on the maverick. My friend called today and described
the token as "square". One point is the top. I"ve never seen a
square brass token. It might be a forerunner of the J W. Williams
mercantile tokens which are the normal round shape.
A stage from Cimmaron, N.M. ran through that location. I asked
my friend to send a digital image to Richard's.

lastleg