We're often asked how we came up with the idea for this or that, and while the answer is different every time, historical objects generally play a leading role in our creative process. Case in point: our newly revamped line of Trade Tokens are only the latest incarnation of a story that goes back thousands of years.
Just a few of our new Trade Token designs...
Before Bitcoin, before anyone had heard of the debt-ceiling, before the gold standard, before paper money, and even before ships sailed full of doubloons and pieces of eight, there was barter. And primitive tokens, whether made of metal, wood, clay, or seashells, were often used to keep track of accounts.
We love that our modern update of this ancient system encourages the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness that used to (and still can) form the core of a healthy family or community. Where modern forms of official currency fail us, a simple IOU given in good faith can initiate a series of selfless acts and a cycle of shared experience and appreciation.
Our modern Trade Tokens also connect us to small slivers of the past in unexpected ways. Check out these vintage IOUs covering everything from ice cream to fur pelts:
I wonder what a dollar used to buy at the Clinton Cotton Mill Store!
One hundred tomatoes!! Picked or peeled? Or maybe eaten!?
I wish I had a 3-digit telephone number...and some ice cream.
The canning companies made A LOT of barter tokens back in the day.
These check tokens were paid to field laborers and then redeemed later.
What could be better than lunch, AND beer?
I think you used to get a lot more than you might think for a nickel.
I like how open-ended these are. Amuse me. Sing me a song. Come on back...
Remarkably, there's an entire field of study (called exonumia) and a quirky cadre of collectors devoted to hunting down vintage tokens of all shapes, sizes, and origin. Want to try your hand? Here are a sampling of live eBay auctions to get you started...
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 Vintage Trade Token Encased Lucky 1930 Wheat Cent Penny Lot $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 6:58:37 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 VINTAGE BRASS TRADE TOKENS BUTTE MONTANA KILVANICK'S SMOKE HOUSE 12.5 CENTS $21.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 7:57:25 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 RARE VINTAGE 1930S FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT GOOD LUCK / TRADE TOKEN / MEDAL SAINT LOU. $9.95 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 9:05:18 PST Buy It Now for only: $9.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage / 1963 Erie, PA Winter Carnival Trade Token / Perry Sesquicentennial $4.99 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 9:10:37 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage / 1963 Erie, PA Perry Sesquicentennial Trade Token / Battle of Lake Erie $4.99 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 9:16:26 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 (3) Vintage***Merchant Trade*** WALLACES Hose Club Token- Store Advertising $5.00 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 11:09:41 PST Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 7 Vintage Trade Game Tokens Nice Mix Lot $10.00 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 11:13:09 PST Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Coin King Alaska Trade Token Coin $5.95 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 11:21:33 PST Buy It Now for only: $5.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Red Goose Shoes For Girls and Boys Premium Money Trade Token Coin Chip $4.95 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 11:21:33 PST Buy It Now for only: $4.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 VINTAGE RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE NON COM OFFICERS OPEN MESS 25 CENT TRADE TOKEN $4.50 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 12:26:45 PST Buy It Now for only: $4.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Tony Lama El Rey handcrafted Boots Trade Token Coin Medal $7.95 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 13:03:58 PST Buy It Now for only: $7.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Tucker Elliott Merchandise Company 25 Cent Trade Token Courtland Kansas $3.99 End Date: Saturday Feb-8-2014 13:25:13 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
