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their own dedicated following in the collecting Fakes and copies of saloon tokens do exist but are not currently as
community, but it is the tokens from the ghost problematic as they are in other numismatic areas. Collectors should
towns, “one-horse towns,” and abandoned be aware that original token dies exist and have been used to make
mining camps in the West that have attracted a copies, restrikes, and fantasies. However, modern fantasy tokens
specialist following. A few pieces from some of and souvenir pieces made for tourists are plentiful and generally
the larger cities, especially those in California, easily identified as such.
are available for a reasonable price, though Many saloon tokens—especially those from
many examples can rise in price quickly, remote Western towns—have been dug and
especially if they have a particularly romantic are often found corroded, pitted, or have
business name or from a storied ghost town, a distinct dark matte patina that bears
such as Bodie, CA. testimony to decades spent baking in
According to Augustine, “Tokens with ties to the Western sun. While not necessarily
the legends of Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, and the prettiest of specimens, some are so
other outlaws have considerable value to rare that severely damaged pieces are
collectors of Western memorabilia in general, so This Stewart Saloon often the only available examples and
the market for these authentic tokens is greater. token came from Benson, should not be overlooked.
Alaska Territory, and was
Token-collecting expert Richard Greever runs “Good For 1 Drink,” and
Richard’s Token Database. In this database, you measures just under 1” in TOKEN MARKS
can view images of tokens from all over the diameter. Currently valued at There are countless different makers for
United States. His database includes all kinds of $382 at coinappraiser.com all forms of exonumia, though the majority of
exonumismatic tokens, not just saloon tokens. extant examples are not necessarily marked. Many of the major makers
When you use his database, limit the search by typing “saloon” in the have a wide variety of marks; some have just initials, while others will
database. If you are interested in broadening the scope of your collection include the company's full name and even street addresses, which can
to include drink tokens from bars and hotels, you may want to browse greatly aid in dating specimens. When present, the marks will be along
the database, too, since hotel bars also used tokens, but are not technically the bottom rim, usually in tiny letters that are sometimes unreadable
considered saloon tokens.”
without magnification. Some later pieces will use decorative monograms
or company symbols instead, which can be located anywhere in the
design. Larger pieces are sometimes marked on the edge.

WorthPoint® Corporation is the largest online resource for researching,
valuing, and preserving antiques, art, and collectibles. The suite of offerings
on WorthPoint.com includes a Price Guide of auction prices realized for
antiques, art, and collectibles; a resource gallery for identifying makers’ marks;
and a digital library of books from leading publishers on a wide range of
collecting topics.

Rare Skagway saloon token, 1898-1906, sold at
Holabird Western Americana auction for $190 in August 2023

The collage assembled shows a few examples of tokens from neighborhood taverns in
Belleville, Illinois. Mary’s Tavern 15 cents, Geo Kreitner Saloon 5 cents, H Green,
5 cents, Burgard’s Tavern 5 cents, Joe Krieg Tavern Good for a 5-cent drink, and Photo showing Soapy Smith at his Saloon in Skagway, Alaska
Hugo Magin, The Oasis, 5 cents. Photo Labor & Industry Museum, Belleville, IL just before he was killed on July 8th, 1898
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