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 Replies: 22 / Views: 2,721 |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
I found the communion token pictured below among a small box of miscellaneous items in a collection I recently inherited from my grandfather. It has been positively identified as having come from one of the first Presbyterian Churches in the state of Indiana, in a part of the state that at the time was known as Caledonia. The writing on the token indicates that the branch of Presbyterianism was Associate Reformed. What I would like to know is how much interest is there for tokens such as these? I noticed that the Presbyterian Historical Society, which claims to have the largest collection of tokens such as these, is no longer accepting artifacts as donations. I am also interested to know if anyone can do a better job of narrowing down the date that this token might have been made. The best I can do so far is sometime between 1810 and 1840.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
I have about 25 communion tokens from Scotland. Mine range from 1678 to 1862. I'm not familiar with yours. Communion tokens were made in different cities and churches, some made in Canada and USA. If you do a browser search for books about them you'll find several. It there's a college library in your area you could see if they have any of these reference books. Yours isn't in good condition so it won't be worth as much as a better one. You can go to ebay sold listing searches to get a general idea what they are selling for. I bought mine years ago, ranging in price from $2 each for a group lot to $35 each. Edited by livingwater
02/14/2025 06:54 am
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Valued Member
 United States
258 Posts |
I actually found the following book:
"Communion Tokens: A Descriptive Catalogue of Tokens and Medals Struck for the Use of Communicants in Different Branches of the Amercian Presbyterian Church", within which I found the following description:
20. Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y. Organized 1810. Presbyterian church Caledonia, in two circular lines. Reverse, associate reformed token in two circular lines. Lead. Round. Size 14.
That described my token to a tee. The tokens from Scotland seem to be more collectible that those from the U.S. Would you agree?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
I'm glad you found it. I don't know much about the communion tokens market. Some people collect various tokens but I think most collect coins. Here's two of mine 1819 Glasgow, 1844 Inverness. Some of them are uniface, a design only on one side.   Edited by livingwater
02/14/2025 07:07 am
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Moderator
 Australia
16805 Posts |
Communion tokens have a small but dedicated collector base. Such tokens, as a rule, are more popular and valuable in their country of origin than outside: Australian tokens are more valuable in Australia, Canadian tokens more valuable in Canada, and so forth. Scottish tokens are by far the most common, and cheapest anywhere in the world.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Thank you for your help! Those tokens are in remarkable condition for their age, especially compared to mine. Interesting that you should mention uniface: I have come across a few of those too in this collection. I will post them soon for more guidance. This forum rocks!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
They fetch anywhere between £1 and £20 at auction in Scotland; mostly around £10.
That's why I never get any, as my ceiling is £5.
I've seen cast fakes in pewter of 18th century tokens.
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
Hi - what a great find! I think that token is very rare and I would think it could go for a few hundred dollars at auction. I'm just guessing b/c I couldn't find another that had sold. Typically, (though not a rule) United States communion tokens are rarer than most of the Scottish types and would command higher prices. Even in this condition, b/c these were probably made crudely anyway. Stack's Bowers sold this one from the town of Florida in Montogomery Co., NY for $480 in 2020. If you are looking to sell, I would probably contact Stack's Bowers and see what they have to say. https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/l...-bason-ny-87 |
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
It looks like you found it in the Warner reference. Here is the listing from Bason (Communion Tokens of the United States of America).  |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Thanks, Brummagen! I went back to the "Communion Token" book that I referenced above and found this: 48. Florida, Montgomery Co., N. Y. associate church in two lines, with serpentine border. Organized 1786. Reverse, r- j. banks 1803 Florida in three lines, first and third curving. Pewter. Oval. Size 11 x 15. That's the exact token from the Stack's sale! I am so impressed (and of course grateful) for the guidance the users of this forum continue to provide. Thanks again! BTW: here is the link to the book on Internet Archive: https://ia801303.us.archive.org/11/...?form=MG0AV3Edited by jdsstrat
03/02/2025 1:35 pm
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Yes, that's it: the book by Warner.
BTW/FYI and now that we're on the subject: I just noticed that there is another scarce communion token from NY scheduled for auction this Spring at Stacks and Bowers, one that sold at Heritage in 2020 for $1020.00.
Edited by jdsstrat
03/02/2025 2:00 pm
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
I saw that, too. A lot of these tokens I'm seeing are from NY and PA - for obvious reasons, I know - not so much from Indiana. And I'm pretty sure Caledonia is not an actual place in Indiana anymore, unless you count the cemetery. Should I be getting excited?
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
I would still ballpark yours at a few hundred dollars, but it all depends on who wants it badly enough :) Stack's should get back to you. I also replied to your post about the George III halfpenny. They might be interested in that too. Sounds like you are having fun with the collection!
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
That's it! The halfpenny, I mean. I am speechless, Brummagem. Thank you! And, yes, I am having fun. It feels as if I am squeezing decades of education into weeks. So it's been a bit overwhelming, too. Believe it or not, I haven't really begun the coin part of my grandfather's collection in earnest yet because he also had stamps. He collected them as a boy and I recently learned from my mother that he sold the best part of what he collected in the 60s to buy their home in Westchester County, NY. So I can only imagine. (It near broke his heart, by the way). Anyway, I am nearing the end of what I think there is in what's left of that collection. I didn't know him well because he died when I was only 5 but I am feeling - in a bittersweet way - like he and I would have gotten along extremely well.
Edited by jdsstrat
03/02/2025 3:55 pm
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
And, Brummagem, I just responded to your comment on my halfpenny thread. Incidentally, if you get a chance, I'd love to read your thoughts on the double-headed farthing I posted a little while ago.
Edited by jdsstrat
03/02/2025 4:20 pm
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Replies: 22 / Views: 2,721 |
Posted 02/14/2025 06:50 am
