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 Replies: 15 / Views: 6,581 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
I was digging up a patch to plant a garden and at about 13 inches deep, I found a coin! I have no clue what it is as it has very little info on it. One side of the coin says Sam Fleischer on it and has a small design/mint mark on it that looks like two hearts with a dot between them. The other side only says 2 1/2 on it. The edge is smooth and it's the size of a quarter. I have researched this name and can only find info on a man with the same name, except it is spelled different. It's driving me nuts to not be able to find one piece of information on it. Does anyone know what this is? I'd appreciate any information. Thanks!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
There is a Samuel Fleischer Art Memorial in Philadelphia. It is a graphic arts school. Oddly enough Frank Gasparro (Mint designer of many US coins) was a student there! They have a website (can't post links from my phone). Maybe start there with an email? Edited by amida17
05/22/2011 8:14 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
It looks like a merchant token to me, and one that's fairly old too--late 1800s to early 1900s?  Edited by DVCollector
05/22/2011 8:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Egypt
3470 Posts |
 to CC forum  |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Thanks for the welcome! I have read about the Art Memorial, but what is odd is that the name is spelled differently than on the coin. Still, with the connection between Gasparro, it has to have something to do with it. It could very well be a merchant token as well.
It's worth a shot to send them an email. Thanks for the replies!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4420 Posts |
One "Sam" Fleischer was granted a license to sell liquor by the Common Council of the City St Paul, Minnesota on January 1, 1916. This info is listed within the "Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, 1915." The business was located at 477 West Seventh Street. Of course, Sam might have had another saloon, elsewhere, in the years preceding.
This chap gets my vote as the issuer of this token. The fabric of this token suggests it was used in a saloon. Also, to see the name "Sam" used, instead of Samuel or Sam'l, reinforces my suspicion. The term "Saloon" was often omitted from tokens so as to avoid the wrath of prohibitionists. The "2 1/2" denomination also suggsts use in an area out west.
My imagination suggests that perhaps some disgruntled housewife may hae found this saloon token in her husband's pocket and, recalling how he'd previously returned home drunk, angrily tossed it into her garden. This token predates prohibition in 1919. In what city was it found?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
That's awesome ExoGuy! Nice research. I would tend to believe you nailed it. I'm glad people like you are around here as I am just getting into this whole token area.
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Wow! Interesting information! Thank you SO much! So happy to finally have an answer and history behind this token.
Makes a lot of sense because this was found in...St. Paul, MN where I've lived my entire life. Very cool. Thanks again. :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
ExoGuy's explanation is exactly why I collect coins and tokens. Even a bit of metal in dirt cannot hide its past from ExoGuy's deductions in play!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4420 Posts |
Thanks, amida17. If AshleyB found this token in the greater St. Paul area, that'd solidify my speculation.
Tokens and medals have long provided this oldtime collector with more knowledge, fun and enthusiasm than coins ever have. Exonumia items tell us far more about history, the times and the people, than do our coins. Generally, I find that there's more intrigue with tokens, where and how they've been used. Sometimes, interesting tidbits of information can be learned about the issuers, too.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4420 Posts |
AshleyB ... Thanks for the confirmation. I now wonder if the building is still standing? Or, maybe, you can find a pic of it in the local library? Also, you might gather some interesting tidbits from local newspaper archives ... if you're curious. You may even find enough info to warrant writing an article of local interest. Yet another thought is that you might want to borrow a metal detector and see if you can unearth any more treasures in that garden of yours! Have fun and welcome aboard the website ...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Exoguy-could you PM me. Ihave a question in regard to tokens from my area. I can't PM from my phone.
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Valued Member
United States
286 Posts |
have you found any other coins in your garden? might be a good idea to do a quick check over it with a metal detector if you have one...
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
Or you can do what I did when my GF lost a ring in a field. I bought a metal detector at Fleet Farm, used it to find the ring, and then returned it. They didn't even bother to ask me why I was returning it, they only asked if it was still working. I won some brownie points and didn't even have to spend the $200.
Edited by Strohbie
05/24/2011 01:56 am
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
I have not found any other coins (yet!) in my garden, but think it's worth a look with a metal detector. You never know what can be found!
The building that stands at the site now is a cafe, but I'm not sure if it's a new building or the original. I'm going to do a little digging and see what other information I can find. This is quite interesting.
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Valued Member
United States
372 Posts |
Ashley Hope you have a Metal Detector and can search your garden area for more of these Tokens and other lost coins.goldnugget-Charlotte,North Carolina
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Replies: 15 / Views: 6,581 |
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Posted 05/22/2011 8:17 pm
