1877 railroad identification token help

[WatchCollector56]

This was recently found in a lot of old metals and pins. I was hoping if someone could tell me what it is? and its value?
Thank you!

 

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[OWK]

That's a cool piece.

I can tell you what it's not.

My first thought was Boston and Maine RR. (of course that doesn't fit with Omaha)

I thought perhaps your Paul Heinrich was a retiree who moved to Omaha.

I reviewed the University of Ma database for all employees of the Boston and Maine RR. No Heinrich.

So I guess it was a small midwest B&M line.

 

[Mackaydon]

Burlington and Missouri River RR.
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&MR) was an American railroad company incorporated in Iowa in 1852, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. (per Wiki)
Don........

 

[tamrock]

To me it looks like a "one of a kind" piece made from a coin. Known as "Love Tokens" Very collectible What Are Love Tokens? | Love Token Society

 

[idahotokens]

Often in oval shapes, but seen in round, shield, and other configurations, these "personalized keychain" tags were custom-stamped, so each is a one-off. Fraternal organizations like the Elks, Odd Fellows, etc. often used them for fund raisers. The lodge would buy a "kit" of blank tags and a set of letter/number dies, and then stamp and sell them to members for a bit of a profit. I think jewelers also offered them for sale. They are generally made of a nickel alloy known as German Silver. Not real silver.

When I first started collecting these in the 1990s, the first ten or twelve I got were at 75¢ each. The prices have risen up to around $10 each, although ones from popular states (TX, NV, etc.) and those with "interesting" information, like this railroad-related one, command higher prices, say up to $20. If I were to find one from an ancestor of mine or from a famous person, I'd pay more.

The 1887 Omaha, NE city directory shows Paul Heinrich as assistant auditor for the B & M railroad. His son's obituary states that Paul Heinrich was for a time the private secretary to Grover Cleveland in the former president's law firm.

John in the Great 208

 

[WatchCollector56]

Thank you for your help.