Kansas Tokens

[dkw]

I posted this in the Token forum but thought I'd give it a shot here too in case anyone can tell me anything about these.

The first one was found earlier today: Front says Geo. Hale 20? E. 1st St Fort Scott Kans. Back says Good For 2 1/2 cents in Trade.
The second one was found about a week ago. It has a K in the middle with a 2 on each side. It says Kansas at the top and something I can't make out at the bottom. Tax
I assume it to be a tax token kind of like the one's we had here in MO. By the way these were both found in Central MO.

 

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[Montana Jim]

Your second token is a Kansas Sales Tax Token, Here are some on e-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-of-7-Kansas...10523706QQihZ003QQcategoryZ3455QQcmdZViewItem

More Information on Sales Tax Tokens... Interesting: http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/taxinfo.html

 

[psgen]

Your first token falls in the category knows as (good-for-tokens) by those who collect them. They were often use as advertisements similar to today's coupons and were exchanged for the value indicated, for goods or services of the business that had them made. In this case 2 1/2 cents in trade at George Hale's business - Ft. Scott, Kansas.

This particular token isn't listed in the "Standard Catalog of United States Tokens 1700-1900" This could mean of couple of different things.....1) Token wasn't known about, which isn't an indication of rarity. 2) It was in use after 1900, which is the most likely case.

A quick search of the 1910 federal Census provides the following:

Name:George Hale
Age in 1910: 44
Estimated birth year: about 1866
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1910: Fort Scott Ward 3, Bourbon Co., Kansas
Marital Status: Single
Occupation 1910: Proprietor of a Garage

Hope this helps answer you question.
Psgen

PS: 1910 seems to be the first listing of a George Hale in - Fort Scott

 

[dkw]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[idahotokens]

Just got back from a cross-country trip that included a stop in Fort Scott, KS (wife's relatives). The Geo. Hale token is listed in Waken's Kansas Trade Tokens book, but (unfortunately) he gives no indication of rarity or the history of the piece.

With the value of 2½¢, I would suppose Hale had a cigar store. Typically, the price of good cigars was two for a quarter. So if you just wanted one, you paid a quarter and got a dime and a 2½¢ token in change. The plan was that you would use the token for the next time.

John in ID