Exonumia is the study of coin-like objects such as token coins and medals, and other items used in place of legal currency or for commemoration. This includes elongated coins, encased coins, souvenir medallions, tags, badges, counterstamped coins, wooden nickels and other similar items. It is related to numismatics proper (concerned with coins which have been legal tender), and many coin collectors are also exonumists.
Besides the above strict definition, others extend it to include non-coins which may or may not be legal tenders such as cheques, credit cards and similar paper. These can also be considered notaphily or scripophily.
The noun exonumia is derived from two classical roots: exo, meaning "out-of" in Greek, and nummus, meaning "coin" in Latin; thus, "out[side]-of-[the category]coins". Usually, the term "exonumia" is applied to these objects in the United States, while the equivalent British term is paranumismatica.
The words exonumist and exonumia were coined in July 1960 by Russell Rulau, a recognized authority and author on the subject, and accepted by Webster's dictionary in 1965.
Copper trade token of Durfee & Peck, Indian traders on Missouri River in various locations, circa 1869
Items such as bus tokens (transportation tokens), bar or pub tokens, and casino tokens or chips are some of the more common forms of exonumia. Related, but normally considered to be a different branch of numismatics, is odd and curious money. Another important area of token collecting is Latin American coffee or plantation tokens. Many but not all of these tokens were made in the states while others were made in Europe and England. You will find these tokens circulated in more than one language although Spanish is the prevalent one. Plantation tokens can have an array of denominations and names. The name can be the owner or their relatives. Sometimes the token can have the name of the farm or finca. Lastly, tokens had allegorical symbols to identify the owner. Very little documentation exists since the inception of Latin American tokens, therefore, many tokens cannot be verified as to who the real owner is or what the symbol or symbols meant.
Tokens in Latin America were used as currency since there wasn't enough official currency available. Customarily, workers could convert the tokens to official currency on Saturdays. It is widely understood that many plantation owners in Latin America had their own commissaries, therefore, the workers were able to use the farm owners tokens to pay for provisions. It is important to note that in the 19th century many of the plantation workers and families lived on the farm they worked on.
Latin American tokens were made in all types of base metals and alloys plus plastic, celluloid and bakelite. Unique to Costa Rica were tokens made in paper fashion, either uniface or printed on both sides. Many people call these paper chits. The word "Boleto" is used solely in Costa Rica for the word token whereas "ficha" is used in the rest of Latin America.
Other forms
Most Exonumia generally fall under the idea of giving some sort of value (Classically the “Good For…” token) (frequently with advertising,) or a commemoration of some sort. Chronologically exonumia in America got its start when some 'coined' metal was used as currency when actual money was not easily available in the economy. Merchant tokens, used both to advertise and facilitate commerce.
Tax evasion tokens in the United States were made to look like actual currency, but were of a lesser value because the weight was less than the actual currency required to pay England Taxes. Merchant Tokens (1800-1850's) were mostly made the same size as the contemporary cent but made privately to circulate in the local economy.
Hard times tokens were made during the hard times after Pres Andrew Jackson shut down the second bank. These also were issued privately to circulate in the local economy. They had a wide variety of subject matter, anti-slavery, anti-Jackson, Merchants businesses of stoves, boots, gunsmithing...
Also during shortage of actual currency, postage stamps were encased and used at the stamps face value.
There are three types of Civil War Tokens, Store cards- advertisement and value. Frequently these items circulated along or in place of regular currency. These frequently resembled the new small Indian head cent. Sutler tokens were a special kind of Store Card that was issued by sutlers who supplied the Union Army. A sutler was a vendor who followed the army and sold provisions and luxury goods such as are found in our modern day PX or post exchange. He supplied tobacco, candy, dried fruit, canned goods, writing materials (and sometimes liquor) to the soldier who could afford the high priced goods. Many of the sutlers of this era issued metal tokens to insure themselves the trade of soldiers to whom they extended credit. These tokens ranged from 3¢ to $1 with both the sutler's name and the soldier's regiment listed.http://www.cwtsociety.com/history,
Lastly the "Patriot tokens," which just having a patriotic saying like "Union forever"
The Civil War Token Collectors Guide Year 2002 By Bryon Kanzinger is a valuable resource. Civil War tokens were put an end to by Congress in 1864 Thus forbidding private individuals from issuing any form of money.
During 1865-1900 the most common types are Good For Tokens. Good for 5ct, Good for one throw, one quart (Milk or Beer), one fare (transportation tokens for street cars, ferry’s, trains, subway, and bridges)
Typical ways Exonumists may collect these items are by region, by topic, or type, or shape or material. These different collecting preferences may change the ways tokens are documented. (One could have a guide based on items in a particular state, but they could also be documented as amusement tokens)
Varity abounds, From Wisconsin, to Yorkshire, Topics like Trades; plumbing, bookkeeping. Values from Temperance, anti-slavery, to world peace.
Typical types include Parking tokens, dog license tags, encased coins (keep me and you will never go broke), and elongated currency.
It becomes difficult to have single clear cut distinctions for all of the items of exonumia. Many items fit into more than one category.
An example is: (Pontiac Buggy could give a $1.00 off next purchase or just advertise its company)
Other types of exonumia exist:
Russell Rulau includes a wide variety of items as exonumia.
Aside from the generic Good For's, he documents key tags and quack magnetism.
Good for Mirrors are mirrors that have an advertisement. Other Generic types include:
Food Stamps and tax tokens. Prison tokens
Military Challenge tokens
and 'on base' good for's like at the NCO
Fraternal items; Membership like Masonic, Order of Moose, to the KKK,
Communion (Communion Tokens were given to a member in good standing to permit them to participate in Holy Communion.)
Play Money, (including Game counters) and advertisement games (Shell card game tokens) Arcade and Amusement tokens (including peep show tokens) Other adult tokens are gaming/Gambling/casino chips" See Casino token
Company Store for a closed community lumber or mining town, perhaps CCC Civilian Conservation Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps). Prison and other correctional facility tokens.
Picker tokens for crops and lumber tags.
Tree and pole tags.
Wooden nickels could advertise a cup a coffee or commemorate a city’s anniversary. So-called dollars. Elongated coins generally advertise or commemorate rather than have a value associated with them.
Telephone tokens for per use pay phones.
Generally, but not exclusively Counterstamp/countermarks, love tokens, Hobo nickels(Usually "buffalo nickels" engraved crudely by hand mostly in that era (1913-38)),
and Elongated coins all use actual currency modified in some manner.
Counter stamped and Countermarked could be just someone’s initials like plain Love tokens or have a store and location imprinted into the token. Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins: Advertising on the World's Smallest Billboards by Gregory G. Brunk http://www.exonumia.com/fs/cm.htm
Jetton Metal Weights were used to verify the actual weight of currency for commerce and exchange. http://www.cunninghamexonumia.com/british.htm
Newer items to fall under the umbrella of exonumia are Geocoins Geocaching tokens and Gift cards. geocaching www.geocaching.com is a type of adventure/game where items are hidden in order for another to find them.
The personalized Gift cards have been replacing the giving of cash for events. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_cards
The general distinction between tokens from Medals is that medals (both privately minted and minted by governments,)are primarly not accociated with an actual amount or value." but rather are a Commeration of people, ideals, or perhaps places.
Various organizations have like TAMS (Token And Medal Society) http://www.tokenandmedal.org/ or MichTAMS (Michigan Token And Medal Society) aid in the education of tokens and medals. Another helpful site is www.exonumia.com
See also
References
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