Classic Mode

C.O.C.A. Times

Issue: 2002-November - Vol 3 Num 3

THE TOKEN CORNER
by Ric Gandy
The Five Most Common Amusement Machine Tokens
In the past I've discussed some interesting,
unusual, and puzzling coin machine tokens. But the
chances are slim that the aveage reader would come
across such tokens. So I've decided to devote this
month's column to the five most common types of
amusement machine tokens. As there are tens of
thousands of different tokens that have been used in
slot and pinball machines, I've come up with this
list of the five most common based on my experi-
ence of having examined hundreds of thousands of
machine tokens.
These are the tokens you'll most likely encounter
in an old machine or in old token accumulations of
machine operators. They are discussed below, in
order, most common type first.
Most of these tokens were made of brass, but you
can find ones that are plated with nickel or zinc, or
made of white metal (nickel) or rarely lead.
However, the most valuable ones are the bimetallic
varieties, where each token is made of two different
metals, one forming a star or spoked area around the
central hole. The metals brass, copper, and nickel
occur in all possible inner-outer combinations.
As these tokens were made over a long period of
time by several different token manufacturers, there
are many different varieties: different styles and
spacing of the lettering, and different small orna-
mental devices (star, dot, or diamond).
1) Obverse: For amusement only
Reverse: This token has no cash or trade value
2) Obverse: Good for amusement only
Reverse: No case value
This is the most common type of slot machine
token. Such a token is referred to as a stock token,
because it is a general type which the token manu-
facturers made in large quantities to keep in stock
for immediate sale. Operators who bought these
tokens didn't want the added expense and delay of
ordering custom made tokens with their name or
special legends, or they preferred these anonymous
tokens.
The tokens have a round hole in the center, and
were used to operate many different slot machines.
The nickel-sized tokens are most common, but you
can easily find ones that are quarter size, dime size,
and cent sized. The dime and cent sized tokens lack
the word "This" on the reverse, probably because
there isn't as much room for the long reverse legend
on the smaller tokens.
Here we have another stock token, that comes in
two different types - with or without a hole in the
center. Those with the holes are similar to the tokens
above. They come in the same sizes, metals (but not
bimetalics), and ornaments (but there's a greater
variety, including bowties and ovals).
The solid type, without the hole, also comes in
penny, nickel, dime and quarters sizes, with the
nickel size most common. These occur in brass,
nickel-plated brass, nickel, zinc and lead. I believe
that most of these solid types are a little more
recent, as they usually are found in association with
pinball machine tokens. Thus their primary use may
have been in the payout pinball machines of the
1930's and early 1940's.
4
This is a stock pinball machine token, made by
the Northwestern Stamp Works of St. Paul, Minn.,
in the 1930's and 1940's. The R in the center of the
token stands for George Roussopulous, the manag-
er of the company. These tokens were sold to estab-
lishments that didn't want to use custom made
tokens with their name, initials, or address, in their
payout pinball machines.
There are many varieties of this token. Most are
a little smaller than a nickel (20mm), typical of
most pinball machine tokens, and made of nickel-
plated brass. Ones in brass, lead, and copper-plated
brass also exist, as do 21mm-sized ones in nickel-
plated brass, nickel, lead and zinc. And there are
differences in the shape and style of the R, posi-
tioning of legends, ornaments, etc.
Northwestern Stamp Works supplied most of the
tokens used in payout pinball machines, minting
thousands of custom pinball tokens for merchants
and businesses that had pinball machines on their
premises.
They also made similar tokens for the manufac-
turers of the payout pinball machines, with their ini-
tial on the token. These have legends such as "Good
For One Free Game" or "One Free Game On
Pinball Machine." You can find these pinball tokens
with the following initials: B (for Buckley or
Bally), D (Daval), E (Evans), G (Gottlieb), G Inc.
(Genco), Jin a diamond (Jennings), K (Keeney), M
(Mills), P (Pace), S (Stoner), etc.
3) Obverse: Property of O.K. Vender
Reverse: Loaned for amusement only
The O.K Vender tokens are the common tokens
that refer directly to a particular type of slot
machine. But it is also a stock token because it
occurs in such great numbers and in hundreds of
varieties.
There are three main types of O.K. Vender
tokens. one type has the obverse legend in one line
around the central hole, with a single ornament at
the bottom (diamond or bowtie). These are brass
(some are zinc plated) and nickel or cent sized
(dime size ones are scarce).
The second and most common type has the
obverse legend in two lines, with an ornament at
each side (diamonds or stars). These are nickel size
(penny size ones are scarce) and brass (some nickel
or zinc plated).
The third type also has the obverse legend in two
lines, but the central part of the token is made of
iron and contains a large star or spokes-and-dots
ornament. The hole in the center is smaller. The
outer part of the token is brass, and the whole thing
is nickel plated (less commonly zinc or copper plat-
ed). Some were made entirely of lead, and without
a hole. The nickel size ones are common; the dime
and quarter sizes are scarce.
5) Obverse: a number
Reverse: Good for 5¢ in trade
Numbered slot machine tokens are very com-
mon, but what the numbers mean is still somewhat
of a mystery. They could be serial numbers of slot
machines, or numbers to represent particular opera-
tors. There are tokens with thousands of different
numbers. The numbers to from 00 apparently con-
tinuously through about 32000, and then very
4) Obverse: This token awarded for skill, R
(in circle in center)
Reverse: This token has no cash or trade value, R
(in circle in center)
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