Looking For Info On J.a. Harber / Good For 2 1/2¢ In Trade Token

I have not seen this token before and it is not listed in my Idaho, Alaska, California, Oregon or Nevada token books. I also check on http://www.tokencatalog.com and was not able to find any similar tokens.

As it is (with no further identifying information), this is known as a Maverick token. I am inclined to think it is probably a United States token. Given the value of 2 1/2 cents it is likely an older token, as it has been a while since 2 1/2 cents was of much value. I have a token in my collection with the same value that is from a business circa 1910-1930.

I don't recognize the design of the token, but I feel like I have seen similar tokens before. I don't have one with a similar design in my collection. That is sometimes useful to get a similar date, or see where a token manufacturer had clients.

If the token is from the 1910's to the 1930's date range, a run of 1000 is going to be a high number, with 100 to 250 more likely for smaller communities.

It might be helpful to know the area that you live, and how you came about having the token in your possession. If there is reason to believe the token if from your area, you could look in the census records from surrounding towns to find potential shop owners. I have done this before to find an identification for a maverick token that was just a proprietor name and a "Pool Hall" for a business.

Maverick tokens are fairly common. I have several dozen of them in my collection, mostly because I pick them out of junk bins for very cheap.

If you are interested in tracking down more information, submitting the pictures to token catalog would be a good place to start, someone might recognize it. If nothing else it will start a paper trail that like minded people can begin to follow. If you can add notes as to where you found it that would also be helpful. As in the future, if someone else found one close by it helps narrow down potential businesses.

to the CCF, Slim.

Given the uncommon surname, Harber, I ran some directory searches; also, using John, James and Joseph. No luck though. I did find a few guys by that name, John & James, in Sacramento, but they were plasterers around 1890. That might be a search location to pursue?

I suspect your token may date as early as 1880-90's.

From one who loves the challenge of attribution .... Good luck!