Need help finding information on Illinois Tokens and Campaign buttons.

[tippyhound]

I have over the years found numerous campaign buttons and store tokens for Illinois and try as I might I can not find a book to help me Identify them.

I purchased my present home in 1991 and have over the years found many business tokens for the same company in my garden. All the tokens were for 5 cents in trade and were made of copper or bronze,not all were of the same design so I'm assuming it was covering a lot of years. Last night I found another in my front yard only this one was made of aluminum, was in pretty good condition and was for 25 cents in trade, again for the same company.

I'm pretty sure the business was in my home, but try as I will I have never been able to learn anything about the company. This is a small coal mining town and at one time there was probably ten different bars operating here all at the same time.

I have went on line numerous times trying to get information, but have had no luck. I have tried the library in Taylorville, but since I am not a resident of Taylorville they won't let me check out any research material.

If anyone has any information that would help me get that information it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. Rick

 

[Larry (IL)]

The only good book I know of for Illinois is "Trade Tokens of Illinois". If you send me your token info, I will be happy to look them up for you.

 

[chuck ky]

try checking the older city directories for the name of the company.

 

[tippyhound]

Larry I don't have the best close up camera in the world but will try to get a couple pictures and sind then to you tomarrow. Thanks Rick

 

[Larry (IL)]

What is on both sides of the tokens is all I need Rick, pictures are OK but not necessary.

 

[tippyhound]

Larry - Sorry to be so long getting back to you but I guess I lost track of the request, and I needed to work with my camera to learn to get some half way decent photo's . Hope these are good enough.

Was able to do some research on the political token. the man was elected to Secretary of State in 1917 and went on to become Governor of Illinois. To bad a nail was laying across token it did a job on it.

 

[Larry (IL)]

Old campaign tokens are aways nice finds and the trade tokens might be better yet because they are not listed in the Trade Tokens of Illinois book. That usually means that there are not many of them to document. There is only one token in the book for Kincaid IL and that is for a soft drink Parlor and it is rated an R6 which is extremely rare, 1-5 known tokens. I would guess your tokens to be as rare. All nice finds Rick and sorry I'm not much more help. Access to a city register or some calls to family that might still live in the area could yield some info and maybe more hunting leads.

 

[filo]

I've had good luck with http://tokencatalog.com/

Click on Illinois and search for some of the text on some of those tokens and you're bound to find some listed.

 

[tippyhound]

Larry thanks for your help. As far as being rare I've dug at least a dozen just like the one I posted out of my garden. The Aluminum one is the only one I have ever found. I have detected all over this town and I have never found one any where else. That is what makes me think the buisiness was on my property.

I have talked to many of the older town citizens and no one remembers it. I will check with the village hall and see if I can find out how to check the buisness registry.

I checked on E-bay to see about getting one of the books on Illinois tokens, but the price of $115.00 was A little steap for my pocket book.

Again thanks for your help. It's people like you that makes this forum fun, helpful and useful.

Rick - Illinois

 

[chuck ky]

if they made city directories for your town you can check the address to see what was on that location.

 

[tippyhound]

We live in a very small town and a couple days ago my wife and I checked on the city directory at the village hall and was told no records was kept for business back then. We also checked the county records for my property to see if either person on the tokens showed up on the records but again no luck.

Thanks for the reply. Rick (IL)