Brief History of Gaming Tokens
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A Brief History of Gaming Tokens by Vince Mowery 1965 was a turning point in the We can personally attest to the use Today, although common on history of gaming tokens – a very of silver dollars in casinos. For exam- blackjack and related games, we significant dividing line. In Part I of ple, in 1955 while driving across the seldom see gaming tokens used on this history, we briefly review the use country, Bettye and I decided on a crap tables (probably because throw- of tokens in games of chance before side trip to Reno, where our first stop ing a heavy metal token halfway the mid 1960s, and in Part II we will was Harolds Club. Bettye was on a down the table to make a bet can be cover gaming tokens from 1965 to the winning streak, placed a dollar coin hard on the green felt). And rarely present day, with some speculations on four numbers at the bottom of a would a metal token be seen on the of the future. Our attention will be roulette table, and won. She moved inside of a roulette layout. It should restricted to United States tokens or the silver dollar up to the next four be recognized that the type and use of tokens used in the U.S. numbers in line and won again. tokens can change over time. We will Moving the bet this way each time, see more of this later and in Part II. The distinct dividing line was due she worked her way to the top of the to the sharp rise in the price of silver. table, winning each bet and paid off Many would claim, with consider- Prior to this epoch, more silver each time in silver dollars. I stuffed able validity, that silver dollars should dollars were probably used in games all the coins in my pockets and we not be identified as true gaming of chance in casinos throughout walked over to a crap table. Her luck tokens, since otherwise we would Nevada than those in use for commer- was still with us. Finally, the stick need to so identify quarters, nickels, cial purposes everywhere else. Part II man standing next to Bettye tapped etc. which are also used in slot will review the consequences of the the box of two sixes. Bet boxcars, he machine play. In the late 1960s or disappearance of silver dollars in said. She did (although a terrible bet) early 1970s, we played a machine in gaming. and won. By the time we left, the Reno that paid-out some jackpot pockets of my pants and jacket were winnings in Morgan dollars. Should I recall several coin collecting loaded with silver dollars. (Yes, in we classify as a gaming token any friends telling me they nearly those days it was common for men to object used as payment from a slot completed their collections of Morgan wear jackets in casinos.) machine? I think not, unless suitable and Peace dollars by saving coins for replay. But we will have more to from Nevada casinos. Apparently the say about the definition of gaming practice got out of hand, as evidenced tokens later. by these comments about silver dollars with missing dates: “When the Slot machines and the tokens silver dollar boom started in the accompanying them, have been with 1960s, several of the casinos resorted us sometimes more – sometimes less, to grinding the dates off the coins so Morgan for over a hundred years. that they wouldn’t be grabbed for their collector value…. The stunt got I. The First Half Century of Slots the casinos in trouble with the government for mutilating coins”1 “If there is a ‘first’ original chance And it wouldn’t be long before the slot machine, it has to be the card coins would be carried off for their machine created for saloon and cigar counter placement, … the ‘Free bullion value. Peace Should we call these gaming tokens? CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 79 Drinks and Free Cigars’ trade stimu- Payout of winnings on slots was lator card machines made rapid… the responsibility of counter atten- advancements, moving… into card dants. It wasn’t long before manufac- drop, hold and draw, and a wide turers, attempting to ease this burden, variety of other formats.”2 The basics “added a swivel base so the bartenders of these machines were developed by could swing the machine around fast the end of the 1880s, with Patent to see if a claimed winner was a Pending notations appearing on liar.”3 But this probably did not machines before the end of 1890. suffice for the bustling bartenders on a busy Saturday night, and further 1901 Draw Poker Machine help was soon forthcoming. The use of tokens as a medium of “Two Chances for One Nickel” exchange or a promise to pay a stated amount was quite likely familiar to MONTE CARLO SALOON 1. Drop Nickel and Pull Lever most at this time, following the wide- GOOD FOR ONE DRINK Down spread use of tokens during the Civil TONOPAH, [sic], NEV. War as substitute money when hoard- 2. Hold any Card you wish by ing caused government specie to Pressing Down Corresponding disappear. “The trade check, or ‘good Button on Top for,’ started coming into its own in the 1866-1889 period, but the 1890-1900 3. Prizes paid on SECOND period saw issues of trade checks CHANCE increase dramatically.”4 It is only rea- sonable therefore, to expect propri- Sound familiar? Only the buttons etors to use nickel size tokens to pay and prizes have changed. These slot winnings, particularly when the early mechanical marvels should winning combination indicated 5, 10, be considered forerunners of 20, or more “Free” cigars or drinks. today’s electronic video poker Cigar smokers and nickel beers were machines. very common in those days; but pro- prietors expected the tokens would be replayed – for obvious reasons. RHODES CIGAR STAND GOOD FOR 5¢ IN TRADE GOLDFIELD, NEV. A.H. ROUNSEVELL CONFECT. & CIGARS ROTHOLTZ BROS Note “FREE CIGARS” on payout 5 GOOD FOR 1 CIGAR schedule card on front of machine. TONOPAH, NEVADA Tonopah, Nevada 80 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 The use of trade stimulators (slots) trade (or in merchandise) on the and “Good For” gaming tokens to reverse side. This practice continued supplement income for small for many years. Some likely examples businesses spread rapidly, as did the follow: number of machine manufacturers and the variety of machines. “A substantial number of cigar makers made machines that they gave away as free premiums…, with some of them ending up as coin machine mak- ers after dropping their cigar lines.”2 One of many collectible cigar tokens, this one in aluminum–made possible by a drastic reduction in price when the electrolytic process for RUTH POOL HALL refining aluminum was introduced in GOOD FOR 5¢ IN TRADE late 1888. “In the 1891-1894 period, BRASS aluminum came into extensive use in Ruth, Nev. the manufacture of tokens”4 COMMERCIAL HOTEL 1 contributing to their proliferation. GOOD FOR 6 /4¢ IN TRADE BRASS ELKO, NEVADA W.J DRYSDALE THE ST. JOHN CIGAR CO GOOD FOR 6 1/ ¢ IN TRADE 1 4 G.F. 2 /2 CENTS I.T. BRASS MUNCIE, INDIANA J.D. LOTHROP CO. TONAPAH, NEV (Two for a nickel) GOOD FOR 5 IN MERCHANDISE ALUMINUM Part of the pleasure of collecting The economic depression of 1893 GOLDFIELD, NEV. these older tokens is uncovering the was a severe jolt to the economy, but history and circumstances surrounding also served as a stimulus to the spread their use. We are not aware of any of trade stimulators. Small merchants research on the above examples and struggling to compete or survive and many other similar tokens from attract customers, paid out, “at least around Nevada. (Not all Trade or as much in trade as… played, and Merchant tokens were used in games sometimes more,”2 by means of of chance). But some interesting “trade” or “merchant” tokens with the research has been carried out for proprietors name on one side and gaming tokens of this time period 1 1 “good for” 5¢, 6 /4¢, 12 /2¢, etc. in CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2002 81 used in San Francisco, a hot-bed of Ownership and operation of slot 1904, the Puritan Machine Company slot activity. An example is shown in machines was very turbulent every- Ltd. of Detroit manufactured a outline form below: where at the end of the 1800s and machine called, appropriately, into the twentieth century. For exam- PURITAN with “a mechanical ple, an 1898 San Francisco ordinance gimmick whereby every fifth or sev- “decreed that the machines were pro- enth coin – was tossed into a separate hibited from paying out in money, but cash box inside the machine. The operators soon circumvented this law operator could use this extra cash box by substituting payouts in trade checks as the merchant split…”2 redeemable only in merchandise.”6 Needless to say, cash exchange was Some slot tokens used by slot common. All this probably stimulated operators: the spread of gaming tokens. Machine manufacturers responded to the shifting morals and regulations. In the late 1890s the Leo Canda Company of Cincinnati produced “an automatic check or token payout 2 HENRY LODERHOSE GROCERY model…called THE EXCELSIOR.” ASH AVENUE The Mills Novelty Company of San SAN FRANCISCO Francisco, “made a tall boxed vertical cabinet machine in 1897 with a token “Loderhose’s grocery store was at payout… calling it the FIGARO 318 Polk Street on the northeast CHECK MACHINE.”2 In this time corner of Polk and Ash Avenue.”5 period, manufacturers were freely This is an area wiped out by the fire copying each others’ machines.