I could use help in identifying a Token I found today

[michelob]

Hey guys,

I found this token today while hunting an old area, in fact I found a 1903 Indian Head penny only 10 feet from it. The token is slightly larger than the IH but much heavier. On one side it has the intials G.C. and on the other side it say 299. Sorry I didn't take a picture of the back side and the picture I have attached here isn't so great either as it was taken with my phone. I hope someone can tell me something about it. Thanks for all your help.

Michelob

 

[Buddysox]

Might be a tool token. In manufacturing companies, mines or railroad shops they used to assign workers a number and give them tokens with that number on it. Made it easier to check out tools and equipment. They would just give the token to the tool counter man and he would put it on the shelf where the tool went. That way they always knew who had what tool.

 

[TokenDigger]

My guess is that it may be an early slot machine token. They would use tokens to get around anti-gambling laws. The GC may be the initials of the company that made the slot machine and 299 may have been the number of the machine. It could also be a "trade stimulator" token. For example, when a customer would buy a 5 cent cigar, he would drop a nickel in the machine. The coin would make arrows and wheels spin or lights go off, etc. and if it landed in a winning position, the customer may get an extra cigar or a token to be redeemed for something. Many of these would have the machine number on them. I don't think it is a tool check piece since most of the ones I've seen are a little bigger and usually had a hole which would attach to the peg board for the tool that was taken out. (I remember using these in the late 1970s when I worked in the steel mills). Then again, it could be a tool check piece but who knows? I hope you can get an id on it. It's an interesting find.