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The Florida Token Society,
founded on December 4, 1976, at 2 P.M. met at Ellinor Village in Ormond Beach, Florida. A small group of collectors reorganized a token group,
which had become inactive about one year earlier. The founding group
consisted of Vic Amorose, C. R. and Marion Clark,
Robert and Mary Clark, P. G. Gearing, Ralph Jones, N. R. and Dorothy Mack,
Hugh Roberts and Fred Stanfield. They elected Vic Amorose
as president, then selected Vic's suggested name for the newsletter,
TOKENEWS, as the official name for the newsletter. Later that Month, a one
page issue, edited by Fred Stanfield, was published. The newsletter has been
published continuously since 1976.
The Florida Token Society has had a loyal
membership throughout the years with almost 100% renewals and constant
growth, while some clubs were experiencing declining membership. This can be
attributed to an enthusiastic membership and a quality newsletter. The
objectives of the Florida Token Society are:
- To promote and stimulate the research of Florida tokens and other exonumia.
- To cultivate fraternal collector relations.
- To disperse information about The Florida Token
Society activities.
- To permanently record historical information
relating to Florida tokens and medals by publishing it in the
newsletter.
The benefits of membership
include:
- TOKENEWS, the newsletter, is published four
times a year with an average of 72 pages per year.
- Timely educational articles are published in
each newsletter.
- Maverick tokens are listed for members in an
attempt to attribute them.
- Free classified advertising is available to all
members in each issue.
- Any member may purchase inexpensive paid advertising.
- We have four meetings per year in various parts
of Florida. Each meeting provides an opportunity to trade
and buy tokens, talk about tokens with other collectors, and participate
in an informative program.
A token is something of
little intrinsic value that is used as a substitute for US currency. Florida is rich in tokens, especially commissary tokens
which were used primarily from the 1890's until the 1940's due to its active
lumber and turpentine industry. The remoteness of the
sawmills and turpentine stills required the company to provide a store
where the employees could buy the necessities. These companies would often
issue tokens to employees for payment of wages in advance of the regular
payday and these tokens were good only in the company owned commissary. These
lumber and lumber related tokens are some of the most sought after tokens
today. Florida also has a great variety of modern tokens,
including amusement tokens; drink tokens, picker's tokens, and food stamp
tokens.
The old saloon and military tokens of Florida are rare, but many tokens are available to
collectors. Large numbers of transportation tokens and amusement tokens can
be obtained for a dollar or less. The “chase" for a token offers
great enjoyment. There is much satisfaction in searching and finding the
tokens you desire for your collection.
C. R. Clark, one of the founders of The
Florida Token Society, published the first catalogue of Florida trade tokens in 1980. A second catalogue, Florida
Tokens, was released in mid-1990. Publication of the first catalogue did much
to stimulate interest in Florida
tokens and the second book again stimulated more interest. The catalogue, can
be obtained directly from the author: C. R. Clark, P.O. Box 48691, St.
Petersburg, FL
33743
Have questions concerning Florida
tokens or medals? Need more information concerning the Florida Token Society?
Want a copy of the current
newsletter - TOKENEWS? Mail 60¢ in coin or stamps, for postage to
Steve Ratliff, 1717
Saint Marys Bay Drive, Milton, FL
32583-7343
Do you have a question concerning a
Florida token or medal?
Send your email question to: (click
on the email address to open)
Steve@Ratliff.com
Perspective
Florida Token Society Member, click
here to pay your $7.50 dues instantly with PayPal!
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