S.S. Rex Bingo Token

mammoth29

Sr. Member
Feb 22, 2013
258
240
Utah
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Got this token in a lot I purchased at an auction. Does anyone on here have any idea of rarity/value? Before I emailed the site owner of Tokencatalog.com they didn't even have the token listed. I am deciding wether or not to send it in for authentication.
image.jpeg
 

There was a vessel named the S.S. Rex (steamship) that plied the waters off the California coast in the 1930s.
It was a famous (or infamous) gambling ship. Guests would board then sail to outside the limits of authority--then party and gamble till the ship returned to port.
Perhaps this was a token from that vessel. A lot of history in that token if that be the case.
Don...
 

. A lot of history in that token if that be the case.

I agree! I know it's a long shot to think anyone on here would have good knowledge of the token itself, but here's to hopin'!
 

A history of the S.S. Rex can be found here:
Tony Cornero And The S.S. Rex - Los Angeles Magazine
Part of that history includes a reference to the bingo game on the vessel.
"Southern Californians have always had a special fondness for the sea, but Tony Cornero provided a new attraction – money. He offered his customers roulette, faro, blackjack, stud-poker, high-spade, craps, chuck-a-luck and a Chinese lottery. He installed 150 slot-machines, a commodious horse parlor,and a bingo layout seating 400. "
Don..
 

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