Tom's Token Collecting Place
Many collectors say that the reason they are passionate for collecting, is the "Thrill Of The Hunt". I don't think that statement is entirely true, though. Personally, I belive that a more appropriate phrase would be the "Thrill Of The Find". Too many fruitless "Hunts" makes for a pretty dull and frustrating hobby. I'm not trying to say that I think coin collecting has gotten dull, but as my coin collection has grown, the frequency of finding coins that I still need has gone down considerably. Not only are the finds becoming fewer and farther between, they are getting downright pricey. Since taking on a mortgage and moving out on my own, my coin collecting budget has taken a big hit. The circumstances left me looking for a cheap way to satify my collecting bug.
Enter tokens.
Ever since I started collecting coins, I have had a small accumulation of tokens tucked away. They always interested me, but I had never actively collected them. In 1997 I joined The American Vecturist Association, (AVA for short) and that summer I attended the AVA National Convention in Enfield, CT. It was a great combination of my interest in cars, trains, and coins. I was instantly hooked on Transportation Tokens as well as the offshoot catagories of Carwash Tokens and Parking Tokens. Since then, I have become even more interested in Arcade Tokens. As a teenager in the 1980's, I played my share of video games. Now, the tokens that make those games run offer a seemingly endless bounty of collecting variety that is still growing. In addition to these catagories, I don't think anybody can collect tokens without getting at least a few Good Fors in the mix.
If you are a Token Collector too, then check out my list of spare tokens. Most of these I will trade 1-for-1 for similar type tokens, otherwise there will be a note pertaining to a "trade value". If you see something you would like, send me an E-Mail and I will try to save it for you. Be sure to also include your traders list, or (preferably if its a long list) an address where I can view it on the web, so that we can work out a trade. If your only list is on paper, let me know and I'll get back to you with my Snail Mail Address. Sorry, I'm not interested in selling any of these tokens, just trading for other tokens that I don't have. I also have a short list of other items that I would like to trade for tokens.
Arcade Tokens
The catagory of Arcade Token can include Video Game Tokens, Pinball Tokens,and Prize Coupon Tokens. I also lump in other Amusement tokens, such as Batting Cage Tokens, Peep Show Tokens and Good Fors that pertain to amusement places.
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Transportation Tokens
A Transportation Token is any token that has been valid payment for transportation, (such as in/on a train, trolley, taxi, carrousel, etc.) or passage (such as a toll). In order to be listable in a transit token catalog, a token must bear an inscription noting its value as a fare, such as "GOOD FOR ONE RIDE", or "ONE FARE". Token maufacturer's stock tokens cannot be listed as Transit Tokens, regardless of their use.
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Good Fors
Good Fors are an easy type of token to recognize. They are usually made as an advertisement for a place of business, and work like a coupon. The words "GOOD FOR" almost always appear somewhere on this type token, such as: "Good For 5 Cents In Trade", or "Good For One Cup Of Coffee".
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In case you are interested in learning a little about where tokens are used, I have started a report on tokens in use in New England. This report is definitely a work in progress. As I find more tokens in use, I will record them here.
This page last updated February 24, 2008