Baton Rouge Bakery Trade Token

[wheatfinder13]

I was able to get out and do some detecting with all this new free time and was able to get out and do some detecting. I dug this up last week in Downtown Baton Rouge. It’s not in the print LA token catalog and I couldn’t find anything online. It’s pretty corroded but the writings all there I think.
“F. STABLER BAKERY” and “GOOD FOR 10CTS BREAD”
I’m pretty stumped so if anyone can help it would be appreciated
Thanks for looking

 

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[MadPoetLaw]

Hey that's a cool token find. I always love it when i pop a merchant token. A shame its not in better condition. I checked the standard catalog of US tokens 1700-1900 for you and unfortunately nothing shows up in LA. From the pic i would guess that your token is aluminum ? ? ? If so then it is reasonable to assume it dates to post 1900 as aluminum wasn't common at all until after 1888. It's also safe to assume that this token probably dates to the Great Depression era of the 1930's. Historically bread was 5-10 cents a loaf then (so 10cts. makes sense) and there was a huge shortage of circulating coinage then (due to hoarding) which led many big city merchants to produce trade tokens. Bakers and dairy companies often did this and would give their customers "change" back in such tokens thus helping alleviate the coin shortage, advertise, and ensure repeat customers all at the same time ! Shouln't be too hard to find them. I would start with a 1920's Baton Rouge business directory. They are available through LSU here is a link: https://lsu.ent.sirsi.net/client/en...$002f$002fSD_LSU$002f0$002fSD_LSU:2750571/one

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Hey that's a cool token find. I always love it when i pop a merchant token. A shame its not in better condition. I checked the standard catalog of US tokens 1700-1900 for you and unfortunately nothing shows up in LA. From the pic i would guess that your token is aluminum ? ? ? If so then it is reasonable to assume it dates to post 1900 as aluminum wasn't common at all until after 1888. It's also safe to assume that this token probably dates to the Great Depression era of the 1930's. Historically bread was 5-10 cents a loaf then (so 10cts. makes sense) and there was a huge shortage of circulating coinage then (due to hoarding) which led many big city merchants to produce trade tokens. Bakers and dairy companies often did this and would give their customers "change" back in such tokens thus helping alleviate the coin shortage, advertise, and ensure repeat customers all at the same time ! Shouln't be too hard to find them. I would start with a 1920's Baton Rouge business directory. They are available through LSU here is a link: https://lsu.ent.sirsi.net/client/en...$002f$002fSD_LSU$002f0$002fSD_LSU:2750571/one

Great information MadPoetLaw!

 

[wheatfinder13]

Hey that's a cool token find. I always love it when i pop a merchant token. A shame its not in better condition. I checked the standard catalog of US tokens 1700-1900 for you and unfortunately nothing shows up in LA. From the pic i would guess that your token is aluminum ? ? ? If so then it is reasonable to assume it dates to post 1900 as aluminum wasn't common at all until after 1888. It's also safe to assume that this token probably dates to the Great Depression era of the 1930's. Historically bread was 5-10 cents a loaf then (so 10cts. makes sense) and there was a huge shortage of circulating coinage then (due to hoarding) which led many big city merchants to produce trade tokens. Bakers and dairy companies often did this and would give their customers "change" back in such tokens thus helping alleviate the coin shortage, advertise, and ensure repeat customers all at the same time ! Shouln't be too hard to find them. I would start with a 1920's Baton Rouge business directory. They are available through LSU here is a link: https://lsu.ent.sirsi.net/client/en...$002f$002fSD_LSU$002f0$002fSD_LSU:2750571/one

Thanks for the info!

 

[Bramblefind]

Possibly this could be him-? Obituary for Frank Stabler from the Baton Rouge State Times Advocate 1/13/1919 indicates he was a baker. It also notes he died in the influenza pandemic.

 

[Bramblefind]

This is from the Baton Rouge Daily State 12/3/1909

 

[wheatfinder13]

Possibly this could be him-? Obituary for Frank Stabler from the Baton Rouge State Times Advocate 1/13/1919 indicates he was a baker. It also notes he died in the influenza pandemic.

I think it’s pretty safe to say this is our guy. Thanks for the ID

 

[louisianaman]

Sweet find. I live in Bogalusa Louisiana and would love to be able to find stuff like that here. Baton Rouge is getting kinda rough.and I don't know it very well. Nice find.