Trade token help

[wheatfinder13]

Hello,
I found this trade token at the same location that I found the worlds fair/ expo souvenir at. I thought it was a nickel till I cleaned it up. I'm really happy with it as this is only my fourth trade token I've pulled from the ground. The tone is not listed in the Louisiana token catalog or on token catalog.com but there's not a doubt in my mind that it's from New Orleans. I was hoping someone here could help me identify it. I'd be very grateful. It's the size of a nickel and the reverse is blank. Thanks

 

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[DCMatt]

I'm going to take a bit of guess on this one...

I'm guessing the token is from the barber shop of James Oliver Diffay - Birmingham Alabama from the early 20th C.

J. O. Diffay, born 1862, was a prominent business man in Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20 C.

His son was Fred B. (not F. M.) born 1889. F. M. may have been a grandson or other relative - but again, I'm just guessing... I did find a match for 'F. M. Diffay' in Chicago @ 1915 selling cigars and novelties.

Cool dig!

DCMatt

 

[HuntinDog]

Wheatfinder13
What a great find!
I love finding tokens. They tell so much more than a coin.
congrats.

DC
Great research...
Both occupations (Barber or Cigars) would have had a shoe shine stand in them back in the day, so either is possible.

 

[DCMatt]

A little more research finds Frank Monroe Diffay, b. 1874, also in Birmingham, AL. I can't link him directly to James Oliver but I suspect he is related.

I read more about J.O. Impressive. Born a free person of color in Alabama in 1862. His formal education was to the 5th grade. He was an amazing man involved in many things - entrepreneur, bank president, real estate, insurance...

I feel confident he's your guy.

I'm going to take a bit of guess on this one...

I'm guessing the token is from the barber shop of James Oliver Diffay - Birmingham Alabama from the early 20th C.

J. O. Diffay, born 1862, was a prominent business man in Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20 C.

His son was Fred B. (not F. M.) born 1889. F. M. may have been a grandson or other relative - but again, I'm just guessing... I did find a match for 'F. M. Diffay' in Chicago @ 1915 selling cigars and novelties.

Cool dig!

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

I found a book published 1908 referring to the barber shop as "Diffay Brothers". The book mentions one of the barbers is Mr. Frank Diffay. I also learned that J.O. had 14 siblings.

So... Highly successful barber (and other services) shop owned by J.O. Diffay that employs Frank ? Diffay. Still circumstantial but you can draw your own conclusion.

BTW. Frank Monroe Diffay is in Chicago on the 1920 census.

DCMatt

 

[wheatfinder13]

Thanks dcmatt. I'm greatly thankful for your help. I appreciate it alot

 

[idahotokens]

Nice one! Please post pics of both sides to tokencatalog and document the attribution with this info.
John in the Great 208

 

[wheatfinder13]

Thanks. Will do

 

[dominique williams]

Hello,
I found this trade token at the same location that I found the worlds fair/ expo souvenir at. I thought it was a nickel till I cleaned it up. I'm really happy with it as this is only my fourth trade token I've pulled from the ground. The tone is not listed in the Louisiana token catalog or on token catalog.com but there's not a doubt in my mind that it's from New Orleans. I was hoping someone here could help me identify it. I'd be very grateful. It's the size of a nickel and the reverse is blank. Thanks
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[ToddsPoint]

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He was last here Oct of 2020. This thread is from 2016.