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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: leadnbrass on November 19, 2012, 05:40:59 PM

Title: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: leadnbrass on November 19, 2012, 05:40:59 PM
Was at a flea market and picked these chips up. At first I thought they were old poker chips as they appear clay.

I then realized that the dollar amounts are strange $2 $6 $8 and one of the chips (the smaller white one) is marked Basic City VA.

Brief History Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_City,_Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_City,_Virginia)

I'm thinking they may have been used as money like getting paid to use at the company store...although most company tokes I've seen are metal.


I emailed the local history guru in town but haven't heard back.

Any ideas?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/leadnbrass/IMAG1104.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/leadnbrass/IMAG1104.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/leadnbrass/IMAG1103.jpg)
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: mart on November 19, 2012, 06:57:01 PM
How big are they ??  I am guessing ceramic or porcelain !!
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: leadnbrass on November 19, 2012, 07:07:49 PM
Quote from: mart on November 19, 2012, 06:57:01 PM
How big are they ??  I am guessing ceramic or porcelain !!

I'm at work now and don't have them handy...I would guess the large ones are around half dollar size and appear ceramic...one does have a small chip.
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: mart on November 19, 2012, 07:30:14 PM
When you can,, post a pic of the back of them !! The one with Basic City, VA on it is more than likely a tourist token for visitors or something similar,, possibly a special event !! If you look at the lettering the letters are Up, Down alternating letters.  Stores way back when would not have done that !!  The others are old english style numbers !!
Will wait to see the back !!
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: leadnbrass on November 19, 2012, 08:19:12 PM
The back of the others are unmarked.

Thanks for the info thus far.
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: KC on November 19, 2012, 08:35:51 PM
Reminds me of what we used to call a "tuit" - advertising piece used by stores, amusements, etc....Like tokens.
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: ghopper1924 on November 20, 2012, 06:33:22 AM
Yep, but old ones!
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: mart on November 20, 2012, 06:38:26 AM
Don`t think I have ever seen those with that much money on them !! Thet are usually just change !!  $8. was a lot of money back then !! Maybe a weeks salary !!
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: frogpatch on November 20, 2012, 07:16:36 AM
Really KC? Tuit? Like when I get round tuit? Oh brother! You watch old Hee Haw reruns too?
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: leadnbrass on November 20, 2012, 10:42:24 AM
That's what is throwing me off, the dollar amount is strange.
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: mart on November 20, 2012, 12:10:05 PM
 The script is odd to me !! Still looking !!
Title: Re: Picked these up...any idea of what they are?
Post by: KC on November 20, 2012, 12:49:39 PM
Ha Ha Frogpatch!  I guess that is reminiscent of HeHaw!  I actually have some old tuits somewhere (wooden and porcelain) that were my grandparents from WWII era.