Old copper token found In Arkansas near old military road

[Texas_Meteorite_Hunter]

I'm visiting family, and one of my relatives is the local historian. Naturally, I've gotten lots of good leads out of him during prior visits, more than I could handle. This Xmas, I was after some old coins at an long gone old meeting hall and found this item.

But, the hall was constructed on a road that was an old indian trail that became the military road (by 1835 decree) going thru this county in Arkansas. Its 1/3 mile from a plantation that also had slave auctions.

Best information on this hall/lodge is it was built prior to 1900, unknown if it replaced another structure. The hall had gone to ruin by 1940's. This week we were only able to find it by research and a discoloration of the 'foundation' in a wheat field. We confirmed it with a local history book, and old man in the nearby town, and we found squarehead nails.

Further, merchants in the area are known to have used trade tokens. Some thought this was an indian token, maybe.

Item is the size of a dime, made apparently of copper. The imprint/strike is only on 1 side, and does not seem to show thru the other side.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[tymcmurray]

I have never seen and indian piece cast with age on it.
Other than that......not a clue.

 

[Kansas]

Just a guess to what I think it might be.
Could it be a "pickers token" ? The tokens land owners gave to workers when they filled a bag or box of crops, and turned them in at the end of the day or week for their pay. It looks like a "1" above the center face, and the "D D" could be the land owners initials.

 

[Texas_Meteorite_Hunter]

More information. Upon examining the coin up close, The 3 faces appear to be all struck from the same die, as I suspect the two D's to be. So it was struck 5 times, 3 faces and 2 'D's.

So that means it was probably not produced in mass quantities. More likely less than 1000 or even 100 peices.

The hall was an "Independent Order of the Odd Fellows" who's symbal is interlinked chains. So not likely a lodge token.

I think the biggest clue here is the D. D for Dime? D for Dollar? D for roman 500?
The general stores in the area did not have D anywere in the owner last name, so no lead there.

 

[CRUSADER]

Look a bit like a test piece. Testing the die punches??

 

[Texas_Meteorite_Hunter]

Just a guess to what I think it might be.
Could it be a "pickers token" ? The tokens land owners gave to workers when they filled a bag or box of crops, and turned them in at the end of the day or week for their pay. It looks like a "1" above the center face, and the "D D" could be the land owners initials.

No "1" above the middle face. Just a scratch. But I like your theory the best so far. We've looked and only found 1 possible owner with D in their name, but it would still be DM.

 

[tinpan]

Just a guess to what I think it might be.
Could it be a "pickers token" ? The tokens land owners gave to workers when they filled a bag or box of crops, and turned them in at the end of the day or week for their pay. It looks like a "1" above the center face, and the "D D" could be the land owners initials.

No "1" above the middle face. Just a scratch. But I like your theory the best so far. We've looked and only found 1 possible owner with D in their name, but it would still be DM.

i agree some sort of work token or club or lodge token The correct name of these tokens is "CHECKS" or "CHECK"

Used as a internal club money or counter. they come in many shapes and sizes but usaully are quite small

Nice find tinpan

 

[Texas_Meteorite_Hunter]

After much thought, the work token loses my vote, as most work peicemeal tokens are made of paper. Copper is too costly, and these were clearly hand made. So that leads back to a merchants token or lodge token. The area is very rural, there's not alot of other options.

The IOOF lodge occupied the hall from 1906-1930s, but the hall was built in 1880's according to a local history book. You also have the Church of christ occupying it, and likely the Freemason's too. Not to mention it was used for dances and chindigs every so often. And about 3/4 mile away is a General store, ferry crossing, and saloon.

The planchet is too small to be any kind of a big meaningful lodge medalion, but as a trade token, it has no value stated. Yet, on the design of the face, its 3-sided, with three triangles on each side of the triangle and 3 faces. The 3 - 3 - 3 is very lodge-esque symbolic.

 

[teverly]

The faces kind of look like stuff i have seen in african art....
Very interesting and neat find.......

 

[Texas_Meteorite_Hunter]

Well, we have more information on this. We talked to some 90+ year olds in the area. None knew of work tokens being using during cotton harvest.

Also, The original farm the lodge was built on is the Camps. There was kin, a D. D. Camp, who had a rural General Store 13 miles away. The General store was in operation in 1915, no other info before or after. We can't even confirm yet, if the store issued tokens, but others in the area did.

So now the suspicion falls back to the item being a store token, but I can't figure out the value of the token. Each face=$0.05? or $0.10? Or is simply the whole token a nickel or dime? D.D. died in the 30's, his kids are dead too. So we can't confirm provinance on it, but that's my best guess.

It would have been easy for a kin to have lost it while at the lodge visiting.

Anyone else buy this theory? And if its a token, and the only one known, any guesses to value?

 

[CRUSADER]

I don't think its a token.

Have you weighed it to rule out a coin weight.

 

[jonnyrebel00]

Ive never seen nething like it but i sure am curious. Hopefully one of the superhero researchers we have on here can come up with something. GL

 

[lucky1777]

Doesn't look like any trade token I have ever seen. If it is, without location and definite proof I don't think it would have much value. Still a very interesting find.

 

[paul1410]

Look a bit like a test piece. Testing the die punches??

I agree. It looks too crude to be an "official" token, etc.

Either a test piece or just a piece a kid made for play.