[PW] Novelty coin information

[Dana Dalrymple]

Using the words "token" or "medal" brings up similar coins, with the Indian head Bicentennial notice on one side, and some variation of a business advertisement on the other.  See this page -
http://www.paradisecoin.com/tokens.html - for a description of "Albuquerque, New Mexico-Front: Irv & Ruth Swalwell, Antiques, Bottles, & Collectibles, Good For 25¢ in Trade, Albuquerque, N.M. Back: United States Bicentennial, 1776-1976 (Indian) (Unc/Copper/7/8") $5.00" or the American International Galleries token - 
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26688

Maybe these are part of a series from Patrick Mint:
"One of the books authored by Mr. Patrick himself, Patrick Mint Tokens: 1976-1979, "shows that I did 5 different tokens for Col. Curtis." Apart from the previously described '76 piece, these include an additional...The other 3 tokens (also copper) are: an undated "Col. James W. Curtis" piece bearing the denomination "Not One Cent" (with a different "United States Bicentennial/1776-1976" reverse, this time featuring an Indian chief), an undated "Col. James W. Curtis and Kay Curtis" piece bearing the denomination "Inflation Dollar" (with yet another "United States Bicentennial/1776-1976" reverse, featuring Philadelphia's Independence Hall)"
http://www.geocities.com/erik_mccrea/linksHIJK.html 

Ah... Here is more - 
http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/soltaylor031508.html

Maybe the Darlington Public Library can help find information about the company (although it appears to be a very small place.) - http://www.in.gov/library/files/D.pdf

* * * * * * * * 
Dana Dalrymple
Managing Librarian
Spokane Public Library
Read. Learn. Discover.

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org [mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of Pam Garcia
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:54 PM
To: Project Wombat
Subject: [PW] Novelty coin information

Hello,

I'm probably looking for a needle in a haystack here, but I thought I'd try in case anyone has run across this before.

A patron is looking for information on, after researching a bit, what we believe is a novelty coin.  He describes it as follows:

The coin looks like a penny, but has an Indian head on one side and on the other is a stick man on a bicycle.  It says Gene Smith (spelling may be incorrect) and Darlington, Indiana on it.  It also says United States Bicentennial.

We located the fact that the United States only struck quarters, halves and dollars for the bicentennial, and that cents with bicentennial markings are novelty pieces.  I also think that true bicentennial coins have Lincoln on them, and I get nothing relevant to this question when searching Gene Smith or Darlington, Indiana and coins.

We can provide this information to him (that it is a novelty coin), but does anyone have any information as to who made this particular novelty coin?  Apparently these novelty coins were possibly made by private companies.  If we could find out who made these coins, it would complete our answer.

Thanks for your time and any information.

Pam Garcia

Pamelyn Garcia
Assistant Director/Reference Librarian
Waupun Public Library
120 S. Mill St./P.O. Box 391
Waupun, WI 53963
(920) 324-7925
Fax (920) 324-7933
pgarcia at mwfls.org
www.waupunpubliclibrary.org
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