A Brief History of Gaming Tokens - ccgtcc-ccn.com

A Brief History of Gaming Tokens

Part One

by Vince Mowery

1965 was a turning point in the We can personally attest to the use Today, although common on
history of gaming tokens – a very of silver dollars in casinos. For exam- blackjack and related games, we
significant dividing line. In Part I of ple, in 1955 while driving across the seldom see gaming tokens used on
this history, we briefly review the use country, Bettye and I decided on a crap tables (probably because throw-
of tokens in games of chance before side trip to Reno, where our first stop ing a heavy metal token halfway
the mid 1960s, and in Part II we will was Harolds Club. Bettye was on a down the table to make a bet can be
cover gaming tokens from 1965 to the winning streak, placed a dollar coin hard on the green felt). And rarely
present day, with some speculations on four numbers at the bottom of a would a metal token be seen on the
of the future. Our attention will be roulette table, and won. She moved inside of a roulette layout. It should
restricted to United States tokens or the silver dollar up to the next four be recognized that the type and use of
tokens used in the U.S. numbers in line and won again. tokens can change over time. We will
Moving the bet this way each time, see more of this later and in Part II.
The distinct dividing line was due she worked her way to the top of the
to the sharp rise in the price of silver. table, winning each bet and paid off Many would claim, with consider-
Prior to this epoch, more silver each time in silver dollars. I stuffed able validity, that silver dollars should
dollars were probably used in games all the coins in my pockets and we not be identified as true gaming
of chance in casinos throughout walked over to a crap table. Her luck tokens, since otherwise we would
Nevada than those in use for commer- was still with us. Finally, the stick need to so identify quarters, nickels,
cial purposes everywhere else. Part II man standing next to Bettye tapped etc. which are also used in slot
will review the consequences of the the box of two sixes. Bet boxcars, he machine play. In the late 1960s or
disappearance of silver dollars in said. She did (although a terrible bet) early 1970s, we played a machine in
gaming. and won. By the time we left, the Reno that paid-out some jackpot
pockets of my pants and jacket were winnings in Morgan dollars. Should
I recall several coin collecting loaded with silver dollars. (Yes, in we classify as a gaming token any
friends telling me they nearly those days it was common for men to object used as payment from a slot
completed their collections of Morgan wear jackets in casinos.) machine? I think not, unless suitable
and Peace dollars by saving coins for replay. But we will have more to
from Nevada casinos. Apparently the Morgan say about the definition of gaming
practice got out of hand, as evidenced tokens later.
by these comments about silver Peace
dollars with missing dates: “When the Should we call these gaming tokens? Slot machines and the tokens
silver dollar boom started in the accompanying them, have been with
1960s, several of the casinos resorted us sometimes more – sometimes less,
to grinding the dates off the coins so for over a hundred years.
that they wouldn’t be grabbed for
their collector value…. The stunt got I. The First Half Century of Slots
the casinos in trouble with the
government for mutilating coins”1 “If there is a ‘first’ original chance
And it wouldn’t be long before the slot machine, it has to be the card
coins would be carried off for their machine created for saloon and cigar
bullion value. counter placement, … the ‘Free

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 79

Drinks and Free Cigars’ trade stimu- Payout of winnings on slots was
lator card machines made rapid… the responsibility of counter atten-
advancements, moving… into card dants. It wasn’t long before manufac-
drop, hold and draw, and a wide turers, attempting to ease this burden,
variety of other formats.”2 The basics “added a swivel base so the bartenders
of these machines were developed by could swing the machine around fast
the end of the 1880s, with Patent to see if a claimed winner was a
Pending notations appearing on liar.”3 But this probably did not
machines before the end of 1890. suffice for the bustling bartenders on
a busy Saturday night, and further
1901 Draw Poker Machine help was soon forthcoming.

“Two Chances for One Nickel” The use of tokens as a medium of MONTE CARLO SALOON
exchange or a promise to pay a stated GOOD FOR ONE DRINK
1. Drop Nickel and Pull Lever amount was quite likely familiar to
Down most at this time, following the wide- TONOPAH, [sic], NEV.
spread use of tokens during the Civil
2. Hold any Card you wish by War as substitute money when hoard- RHODES CIGAR STAND
Pressing Down Corresponding ing caused government specie to GOOD FOR 5¢ IN TRADE
Button on Top disappear. “The trade check, or ‘good
for,’ started coming into its own in the GOLDFIELD, NEV.
3. Prizes paid on SECOND 1866-1889 period, but the 1890-1900
CHANCE period saw issues of trade checks
increase dramatically.”4 It is only rea-
Sound familiar? Only the buttons sonable therefore, to expect propri-
and prizes have changed. These etors to use nickel size tokens to pay
early mechanical marvels should slot winnings, particularly when the
be considered forerunners of winning combination indicated 5, 10,
today’s electronic video poker 20, or more “Free” cigars or drinks.
machines. Cigar smokers and nickel beers were
very common in those days; but pro-
prietors expected the tokens would be
replayed – for obvious reasons.

Note “FREE CIGARS” on payout A.H. ROUNSEVELL ROTHOLTZ BROS
schedule card on front of machine. CONFECT. & CIGARS GOOD FOR 1 CIGAR

5 Tonopah, Nevada
TONOPAH, NEVADA

80 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002

The use of trade stimulators (slots) trade (or in merchandise) on the
and “Good For” gaming tokens to reverse side. This practice continued
supplement income for small for many years. Some likely examples
businesses spread rapidly, as did the follow:
number of machine manufacturers
and the variety of machines. “A
substantial number of cigar makers
made machines that they gave away
as free premiums…, with some of
them ending up as coin machine mak-
ers after dropping their cigar lines.”2

One of many collectible cigar COMMERCIAL HOTEL RUTH POOL HALL
tokens, this one in aluminum–made GOOD FOR 6 1/4¢ IN TRADE GOOD FOR 5¢ IN TRADE
possible by a drastic reduction in
price when the electrolytic process for BRASS BRASS
refining aluminum was introduced in ELKO, NEVADA
Ruth, Nev.
late 1888. “In the 1891-1894 period,
aluminum came into extensive use in
the manufacture of tokens”4
contributing to their proliferation.

THE ST. JOHN CIGAR CO J.D. LOTHROP CO. W.J DRYSDALE
G.F. 21/2 CENTS I.T. GOOD FOR 5 IN MERCHANDISE GOOD FOR 6 1/4¢ IN TRADE
MUNCIE, INDIANA
(Two for a nickel) ALUMINUM BRASS
TONAPAH, NEV
The economic depression of 1893 GOLDFIELD, NEV.
was a severe jolt to the economy, but Part of the pleasure of collecting
also served as a stimulus to the spread these older tokens is uncovering the
of trade stimulators. Small merchants history and circumstances surrounding
struggling to compete or survive and their use. We are not aware of any
attract customers, paid out, “at least research on the above examples and
as much in trade as… played, and many other similar tokens from
sometimes more,”2 by means of around Nevada. (Not all Trade or
“trade” or “merchant” tokens with the Merchant tokens were used in games
proprietors name on one side and of chance). But some interesting
“good for” 5¢, 6 1/4¢, 12 1/2¢, etc. in research has been carried out for
gaming tokens of this time period

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 81

used in San Francisco, a hot-bed of Ownership and operation of slot 1904, the Puritan Machine Company
slot activity. An example is shown in machines was very turbulent every- Ltd. of Detroit manufactured a
outline form below: where at the end of the 1800s and machine called, appropriately,
into the twentieth century. For exam- PURITAN with “a mechanical
ple, an 1898 San Francisco ordinance gimmick whereby every fifth or sev-
“decreed that the machines were pro- enth coin – was tossed into a separate
hibited from paying out in money, but cash box inside the machine. The
operators soon circumvented this law operator could use this extra cash box
by substituting payouts in trade checks as the merchant split…”2
redeemable only in merchandise.”6
Needless to say, cash exchange was Some slot tokens used by slot
common. All this probably stimulated operators:
the spread of gaming tokens.

HENRY LODERHOSE GROCERY Machine manufacturers responded MILLS NOVELTY CO.
ASH AVENUE to the shifting morals and regulations. GF 5¢ IT
In the late 1890s the Leo Canda
SAN FRANCISCO Company of Cincinnati produced “an SAN FRANCISCO
automatic check or token payout (Used with CRICKET introduced in 1904)
“Loderhose’s grocery store was at model…called THE EXCELSIOR.”2
318 Polk Street on the northeast The Mills Novelty Company of San ROYAL NOVELTY COMPANY
corner of Polk and Ash Avenue.”5 Francisco, “made a tall boxed vertical GF 5¢ IT
This is an area wiped out by the fire cabinet machine in 1897 with a token
of 1906 and occupied today by the payout… calling it the FIGARO 411 Market Street,
Civic Center Plaza. “Loderhose [was] CHECK MACHINE.”2 In this time SAN FRANCISCO
a groceryman in 1897 and 1898… period, manufacturers were freely (Founded in 1900 to make machines to
Like many such stores…, it had a bar. copying each others’ machines.
The practice had been almost univer- sell & operate)
sal in town since the Gold Rush… There was one side excursion,
The 316 street number indicates that however. Machine Paper Payouts,
the bar was [as common practice or becoming prevalent today, were pre-
required by regulations] separate from dated by almost a hundred years by
the food sales section. The token was the payout scheme used in the Mills
made for slot machines and issued in SUPERIOR 5 card machine, pro-
the late 1890s after the use of coins duced between 1904 and 1916. “With
had been declared illegal.”5 each wining play the machine
“Objections were raised to the use of advances a pre-printed fortune ticket
coins because, it was claimed, this from a roll, which is then rubber
was open gambling. In the late 1890s, stamped with the number of the pay-
the city voted to permit the devices out, be it one cigar, or 2, 3, 4, 8, 12,
[machines] as long as tokens were the 16, 24 or 100.”3 Today these old
only means of setting them in motion. “fortune tickets” are very rare. We will
‘Trade Checks,’ as they were also have more to say about Paper Payouts
known, were commonly brass…, 21 in Part II. The more things change, the
mm in diameter [nickel size],… more they remain the same.
Larger sizes were used for higher
denominations.”5 Early on, some manufacturers
were renting machines or serving as
slot route operators by maintaining
their own machines on a profit shar-
ing basis. (We will have more to say
about this practice also in Part II). In

82 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002

Some Great Early Gaming Tokens What about all those tokens MODEL CIGAR STORE
(checks) with holes? Well, they GOOD FOR 6 1/4¢
SILVER CUP – CHAS, FEY & CO allowed machines to accept both (Tonopah, nv.)
GOOD FOR 5¢ IN TRADE coins and tokens while paying out
only tokens, as required by law in
PAYOUT TOKEN FOR 1907 SILVER some jurisdictions. Note, this automa-
CUP MACHINE [6, P. 70] tion further eased the payout burden
of proprietors and attendants.
“Charles Fey… issued several
tokens, as did other manufactuers.” “Originally, a small hole was
[7, p. 7] punched in trade checks for storage
on a vertical pin inside the machine.
Charlie Fey enlarged the stacking
hole in the check to permit a detect-
ing pin… to pass through the token,
thus allowing it to remain in the coin
chute leading to the payout tube. A
nickel, obviously having no center
hole, would be pushed into the cash
can. The first Check Separator token,
used on the 1898 Fey LIBERTY
BELL is shown.6

Gaming tokens with stacking-pin
holes:

H.E. SAWYER
GF 12 1/2¢ IT
MCGILL, NV

MILLS NOVELTY CO. L. DEL PAPA & CO.
SAN FRANCISCO GF 5¢ IT

(COUNTER-STAMPED DM) (Tonopah, nv.)
GOOD FOR 2 BITS IN TRADE, WITH 2
CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 83
HORSE BRIDLE BITS.
CENTER STACKING PIN HOLE.

Counter-stamps with initials, as
seen on some operator tokens, could
have been used to distinguish a pro-
prietor’s token from others.

TEXAS BAR NEVADA SMOKE HOUSE HOTEL LAMOILLE
GF 6 1/4¢ IT GF 12 1/2 CENTS GF 12 1/2¢ IT
(Goldfield, nv.) RENO (Lamoille, nv.)
And tokens for use in check separator THE PIONEER
machines: GF 12 1/2¢ IT The large number of nickel size
ELKO, NEV. tokens with center holes is testimony
MAMMOTH CLUB to their widespread use over decades.
GF 5¢ IT “The slot machines of the years
between World War I & II used
(Tonopah, nv.) tokens extensively, principally of the
Note cancellation punch. type with a hole in the center.”7
Perhaps this triggered the use of a
round washer with a string tied to it
as a simple means for slot cheating.
Many token holes appear to be drilled
or punched, rather than stamped; and
some holes obscure lettering, indicat-
ing the tokens were modified for use
in check separator machines.

DEWEY TRADE CHECK
GF 5¢ IT
ELY, NEV.
(no hole)

84 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002

31524

DEWEY TRADE CHECK 38450 Attempting to create an air of
GF 5¢ IT legitimacy or willing acceptance.
(Ely, nev.) 4114 Slots were developed with the appear-
ance of vending machines, dispensing
(stacking hole) 2804 gumballs, packs of chewing gum or
“The full story behind these num- rolls of mints. In addition to a candy
It may be difficult to conclusively bered tokens remains unknown at this treat, some “vending” slot machines
identify some trade checks as time. Most of the numbers are proba- also paid out good for tokens
definite slot tokens. For example, a bly serial numbers of specific euphemistically called “profit sharing
cataloger of the common tokens machine operators.”7 But, in my opin- coupons”.
above stated: “…these Dewey tokens ion, with numbers in the thousands,
were thought to have been used in this appears unlikely. ALL QUALITY MINTS
Dewey slot machines.”8 However, in GOOD FOR A 5¢
my opinion, the hole for a stacking Moreover, the token shown here,
pin in some Dewey tokens from Ely, which reads Machine – 109 on PACKAGE OF MINTS
NV is rather conclusive evidence that obverse and Good For Five (with
the tokens were used in slot plain numeral 5) In Trade on reverse,
machines. could lead one to conclude that num-
bers were associated with machines.
There is one large class of tokens But the questions remain: Why? And
that are clearly slot tokens. Some what made economic sense?
samples are shown below. “Tokens
with thousands of different numbers
are known. The numbers represent
individual machines or machine
operators or businesses.”9 Although
we are certain these are slot tokens,
uncertainty remains as to what the
numbers designated. Reverses of all
the tokens below read Good For 5¢ In
Trade.

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 85

35054 anti-mobsters and crusading politi- KEITH’S MODEL ‘T’
GOOD FOR ONE cians often led to confiscating and CAFÉ & CASINO
PACKAGE OF MINTS destroying tons of machines and 25¢ IN TRADE
tokens. For example in New York
TILLITSON SPECIALTY CO. City on February 24, 1934, police Winnemucca, Nevada
AURORA, ILL. raided the Mills Novelty Co. office
“seizing 350 slot machines and After World War II there was a
MACHINES RENTED 30,000 slot tokens. Simultaneously resurgence of slot machines, often-
MINTS SUPPLIED they confiscated 300 machines and times with the law winking or looking
10,000 tokens at the Tru Mint the other way. But the use of tokens
“When [Frank] Costello was [Vending Company, a front for mob- probably did not follow. Nickels,
questioned about the legality of his ster Frank Costello] warehouse and quarters and dollars were good
machines during the 1951 Kefauver snapped up 32 slots and 20,000 enough. Cigar stores and neighbor-
Investigation proceedings, he tokens at the hotel headquarters of hood general stores had become
answered, ‘Ya got mints every time Frank’s brother, Edward Costello.”vi passé, along with their trade stimula-
ya put in a nickel.”6 So many gaming tokens lost forever! tors. Suburbs and supermarkets
changed our way of life, and anti-
Slots spread extensively over the In 1944 the U.S. government gambling sentiment changed the pub-
first few decades of the twentieth decreed it illegal to make or use lic outlook. Many states passed anti-
century, tempered now and then by tokens of the same size or very close slot laws. The death knell for slots
on-and-off moral backlashes. to the diameter of U.S. coins in use. came on January 2, 1951 when a
Machines and their tokens graduated “A new style of reverse appeared federal law prohibiting interstate
from pennies and nickels to higher (probably due to the above law, as shipment of “gambling devices”
denominations. Vigorous moralists, most stock reverses were now the became effective. Shipment to states
wrong size). The new reverse style where gambling was legal was
has the denomination as a large exempt, and the rest is history.
number with ‘In Trade’ or ‘In Mdse’
in a superimposed panel.”9 Some II. American Gaming Counters
examples are shown here:
The previous section identified
REGAN BROS. gaming tokens as tokens (or checks,
5¢ IN TRADE as they were often referred to) used in
Reno, Nevada slot machines. In this section, we
broaden the definition to include
tokens (frequently called counters)
from private, non-government mints
used in games of chance. The begin-
nings of gaming counters are lost in

86 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002

the shadows of antiquity; but some “Success” game counters show a mid 1830s served primarily as coun-
evidence indicates that tokens were uniformed bust of George Washington ters for use in the game of Whist”.15
used in games of chance in the on the obverse with his name around Thomas was the son of Henry and ran
Roman Empire, and most likely much the rim and a Radiant eye surrounded the kettle from from about 1812 to
earlier. by 15 stars and the words SUCCESS the1830s or later. "Although Whist
TO THE UNITED STATES around counters had been issued prior to…
“Originally counters were, as their the rim of the reverse. “Originals of Thomas Kettle, his were probably the
name implies, small metallic discs these tokens appeared in 1793, honor- first to portray a woman playing
used to ‘count’ beyond the limit of ing the second inauguration of the Whist".15 Some examples from our
one’s fingers and toes. The use of president on March 4, 1793. Their collection are shown below: (There
reckoning counters was a fairly well- maker is unknown but probably they are many varieties.)
established practice in the Roman were struck in England.”x Photos of
world, …”.x Doing arithmetic with these tokens can be found in RS. “Cards in left hand, playing a card with
Roman numerals was not simple. It is Yeoman’s Red Bookxiii, where they right, four counters on table (3 under 1),
only natural to presume that these are called Medals and state they “are no table leg shown… two curls in front of
counters also were used in games of believed to have been made in the ear”. Legend: KEEP YOUR TEMPER14
chance. mid nineteenth century”. Apparently
Yeoman is referring to “Restrikes of “open collar and puff sleeves at shoulder,
“Metal counters were used in parts the tokens,… made about 1860”10. holding cards in left hand…, right hand
of Europe from the 13th century playing a card…”. Legend: KEEP YOUR
through at least the early 18th century “Henry Kettle was a button and TEMPERxiv Some gilt remains on this
in conjunction with counting ‘boards’ buckle maker of Birmingham, token
as a reckoning mechanism. It was England a the end of the 18th and
probably largely during the 1600s that beginning of the 19th century. …but Also, many varieties have a male
the use of Arabic figures came to he also executed the first-known imi- player facing left. Some claim they
dominate the practice of reckoning tations of United States gold coins for were issued as male-female counter
accounts in Europe,… American use as game counters”10. Many of his pairs. An example of the male card
counters were issued after this transi- early game counters used in this player is shown here:
tion period. Consequently, even the country were patterned after 1803
earliest known American counters U.S. gold coins. However, he also
probably served as game counters “copied” an 1805 Eagle ($10 U.S.
rather than as counting board coun- gold coin), despite the fact that no
ters.”11 Game counters are intimately U.S. Eagles were struck dated 1805 to
tied in with the fascinating history of 1837. These early game counters did
arithmetic. not need to be truthful representations
of U.S. coins. Early Kettle counters
As in the previous section, we are quite scarce, with fewer than 200
restrict our use of the name “token” known for many varieties and far
to coin-like metal discs. (This will fewer for some varieties. So fare we
require some modifications in Part II). have not acquired any for our collec-
Nearly concurrent with the use of tion, but photos can be found in the
metallic game counters, this country Rulau-Fuld article.10
also saw the use of chips made of
bone, mother-of-pearl, ivory, etc. “Whist counters were a series of
(also called counters).12 Which came British tokens sold at street shops or
first, metallic discs (tokens) or non- given away as advertising cards from
metallic chips, is probably a chicken the time of George III [1760-1820]
and egg question. Both share similar through the reign of Victoria”.14
heritage. We review here several early Whist, a popular game during this
American metal gaming tokens. time period, was a forerunner of
Bridge. “…most of Thomas Kettle’s
exonumia products issued after the

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 87

Cumberland, was granted that Nuremberg, Germany was the
position in 1837. It is quite likely that center of token production for a few
the rider on both the Kettle varieties hundred years, culminating with the
and non-Kettle varieties of To Lauer family in the 19th century.

Hanover counters is the Duke of Many game counters that found
Cumberland.”15 A kettle game counter: their way to this country were the
product of Ludwig Christian Lauer
Cards in both hands, card on table does (1817-1873). An example of German
not touch border of dots, four counters on made Whist counters is shown below:
table arranged two under two, no table
legs show, carpet plain. Legend: KEEP
YOUR TEMPER14 Other side: Young
queen head, Legend: VICTORIA REGI-
NA. Almost full gilt (gold-like plating)

remains on this token

“’Keep Your Temper’ is a reminder

to the players – especially to the men

– to keep their emotions in check and
to abide by the rules of the game”.15

Many early game tokens portray Obv: VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT Obv: VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT
the head of Victoria, crowned queen BRIT sides of large head. BRIT: around head of queen, WHIST
in 1838 at the age of eighteen. MARKE in small letters under head. Rev:
Another example – one of many: Rev: TO HANOVER above crowned rider SPIEL MARKE inside wreath..
on horseback, sword in scabbard, three- Definitions of Spiel include play,
Obv: VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT headed short dragon beneath horse, date game, etc., and Marke means money,
BRIT around young head of Victoria. 1837.xv This is a beautiful, worn Kettle token or coin. Compositions means to
Rev: Prince of Wales crown and three piece. adjust a debt, to facilitate, etc.
plumes surrounded by Order of Garter Some imitations of United States gold
motto: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENS.15 “To Hanover varieties by the firm coins made to be used as game coun-
Gilt is rubbed off high points on this of Kettle most easily can be distin- ters appear below.
token. guished from those by other die Half Eagle ($5) Counters:
sinkers by the absence of a raised
“According to German law, a sword”.15 There are many different Obv: Liberty Head left 11 stars around,
woman was not permitted to occupy non-Kettle imitations with drawn SP. MARKE belowx. Spotted gilt on token
the throne of Hanover. Consequently, swords: large and small dragons,
Victoria’s uncle, the Duke of large and small crowns, horselegs up
and down, etc., and different obverses.
Copying game counters during this
time period seems to be about as
prevalent as copying slot machines in
the early 20th century.

To Hanover game counters
undoubtedly were take-offs of the
British 20-shilling gold sovereign
introduced in 1817, with a portrait of
the British ruler (starting with George
III) on the obverse and portrayal of
St. George slaying a dragon on the
reverse.

88 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002

And Double Eagle Counter: Gold Miner Counter: (This example
shows pleasing wear which may
Obv: Liberty Head left 10 stars around, evoke images of many card games,
COMPOS. SPIEL-MUNZE below10. unlike many of today’s casino
Dark patina on token “collectibles”.)

Common Rev: Eagle with shield on Obv: Liberty Head left, 15 stars around, Obv: Copy of Coronet Type Half Eagle
breast, COMPOSITIONS-SPIEL- MARKE: COMP. S. MARKE below. with 13 stars, dated 1849.
around, one star below.
Rev: Eagle early type U.S. Double Eagle, Rev: Gold miner kneeling left, with pick,
Eagle Counter: IN UNITATE FORTITUDO above, spade and ore sack. CALIFORNIA above,
COMPS. SPIEL – MARKE below. 1849 in exergue. Horizon shows to left of
Reference nice patina. spade handle; a mountain overtops two
hills right background; two palm trees in
This token is a close copy, both distances.10
Liberty Head and Eagle, of the U.S.
twenty dollar gold piece first minted Flag Counter:
for circulation in 1850.13 “Die
sinking was an infant industry in the
United States until the mid 1830s…15
This was the reason for use of tokens
minted in England and Germany. But
not all gaming tokens of this era were
imported.

Obv: Liberty Head left, eight stars The gold rush in California was a
around, COMP. S. MARKE below. rush of people, and a legendary
spread of gambling, with inadequate
Rev: Eagle with shield on breast, COM - supplies of circulating hard money.
POSITONS SPIEL-MARKE around, three Resourceful forty-niners resorted to
stars above eagle, and three stars the use of counters, usually imitations
below.10 Considerable gilt remains. of United States gold, with values
determined at the start of the games.
“Only a few of these California coun- Obv: A so-so copy of 1847 Coronet type
ters emanated from German sources. Eagle coin, but correct diameter.
Most seem distinctly American in
style and were probably struck by Rev: American flag displayed right has
several of the brass works then in 24 stars. CALIFORNIA above,
operation in San Francisco.”10 COUNTER below, two stars each side.10
& 15

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 89

A montage of early card counters and And gaming tokens didn’t flourish 7 Stephen P. Alpert and Kenneth E.
jetons with playing cards and card suit again until another dramatic event in Smith, “Video Arcade, Pinball, Slot
symbols. 1965. This will be part of the history Machine and Other Amusement
reviewed in Part II. Tokens of North America”,
Summary Amusement Token Collectors
1 Alan Herbert, “Coin Clinic,” Association, Redondo Beach, CA,
So we have early American gam- Numismatic News, May 8, 2001, p.58. First Edition, 1984.
ing counters evolving out of ancient
reckoning counters at least as early as 2 Richard M. Bueschel, “Guide to 8 Fred Holabird Americana, “Auction
the end of the 1700s, leading to a Vintage Trade Stimulators & Counter #10”, Reno, NV., August 3, 2001, p.
variety of types, interrupted some- Games,” Schiffer Publishing, Alglen, 58.
what by the Civil War when many PA, 1997.
tokens were used as substitutes for 9 Stephen P. Alpert and Lawrence E.
hard money This probably led to the 3 Richard M. Bueschel, “An Elman, “Tokens and Medals, A Guide
ready adaptations of tokens for use in Illustrated Price Guide to 100 Most to the Identification and Values of
a variety of trade stimulators and Collectible Trade Stimulators,” Coin United States Exonumia”, Stephen P.
three-reel slots by the end of the Slot Books, Wheatridge, CO, 1978. Alpert, Los Angles, CA, First Edition,
1800s, sometimes to evade laws and 1992
sometimes to satisfy them. The Gay 4 Russell Rulau, “Tokens of the Gay
90’s evolved into the Roaring 20’s Nineties 1890-1900,” Krause 10 Russel Rulau and George J. Fuld,
with a tolerant attitude and use of Publications, Iola, WI, 1987 “American Game Counters”, TAMS
gaming tokens, even surreptitiously Journal, Volume 12, Number 6 (Part
through the depression days of the 5 Jerry F. Schimmel, “The Old Streets II) December, 1972, reprint.
30’s. Again there was a wartime inter- of San Francisco, Early Street Names
ruption, when slot machine manufac- on Some Brass Tokens”, Pacific 11 L.B. Fauver, “American Counters,
turers turned to other outputs during Coast Numismatic Society, San Part 1, Double Eagle & Eagle Gold”,
the 40’s. After the war, gambling sen- Francisco, Monograph No. 1, 1993 Oak Grove Publications, Meno Park,
timent shifted, as it had many times in CA, 1983.
the past. “A demand for further gam- 6 Marshall Fey, “Slot Machines, A
ing regulations developed after 1950 Pictorial History of the First 100 12 Dale Seymour, “Antique Gambling
when the U.S. Senate Committee for Years”, Fourth Edition, Liberty Belle Chips”, Revised Edition, Past
the Investigations of Organized Books, Reno, Nev. 1994. (Beautifully Pleasures, Palo Alto, CA, 1998 Part I
Crime, headed by Estes Kefauver, illustrated Slot machines and early Historical Perspective.
exposed a gangster element…,”6 gaming tokens).
13 R.S. Yeoman, “The Official Red
Book, A Guide Book of United States
Coins”, 55th Edition, St. Martin’s
Press, New York, NY, 2002.

14 Melvin Fuld, “English Card
Counters, Gaming House Inns,
Lottery Pieces, Racing Tokens’ Spiel
Marken, German Whist, Whist and
Other Gaming Pieces”, TAMS
Journal, Volume 14, Number 4 (Part
II), August 1974.

15 L.B. Fauver, “Exonumia
Symbolism & Classification”, Oak
Grove Publications, Menlo Park, CA,
1982.

90 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002