Owner Comments:
TOKEN APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Almost Uncirculated+ — Octagonal Shaped
*Even, dark chocolate and light sandy surfaces intertwine by enveloping this token with a pleasing appeal. Minimal wear is only exhibited at the highest points. A handsome, problem-free, overall token of extraordinary rarity.*
TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Token used at the “Herzig Pool Room” in Denver, CO for 10C in trade circa 1925. Pritchard notes the establishment as being a pool hall located at 2945 Zuni Street, as shown on the obverse.
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There are two Two Herzig Pool Room tokens listed by Pritchard; both are significantly rare. Each specific issue resides in this collection with respective matching grades of AU-55, making for an interesting and uniform visualization of the set. Prichard estimates just 1 of each issue is believed to exist. Subsequently, they equally boast excellent eye-appeal for being just under the grade of uncirculated.
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Further indication of rarity is exhibited by the 10C variety being listed in Pritchard’s Colorado token guide, but not the CMT (Colorado Merchant Token) guide. Additionally, only extremely rare issues are pictured in Pritchard, with just several pages of photos among thousands of tokens. However, the 10C variety is displayed (Plate 10 - “Pool/Billiard Tokens”). With just one 10C variety believed to exist, the photos look exactly like the 10C example in this collection, both grade/appearance. It is very likely they are the same specimen.
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The two issues that make up the Herzig Pool Room complete sub-set within this collection are as follows:
- Pritchard DE3905-10/CMT UNL (10C): ~1 Known to Exist (NGC AU-55)
- Pritchard DE3905-25/CMT DE3758 (25C): ~1 Known to Exist (NGC AU-55)
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Pritchard DE3905-10
CMT UNL
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~1 example is known
NGC Census not available.
TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Brass, 23mm, Octagonal, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Herzig / Pool / Room / 2945 Zuni
REVERSE: Good for / 10¢ / in Trade
HISTORICAL TOWN/CITY BACKGROUND:
(Denver, Colorado):
"Industrious people used to pan for gold that washed off the capital building roof until the state put a gold recovery system in to recover gold leafing weathered off the building.” — Credited Source: Stuart Pritchard