Owner Comments:
TOKEN APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Uncirculated+ — Type II (Aluminum)
*Outstanding overall appearance - Proof-like fields reflect light brilliantly; Contact marks can be seen throughout but do not take away from the captivating radiance and enhanced detail of the piece. Somewhat surprised NGC did not designate this as PL, as it meets all the criteria. - Matches its brass counterpart of the same design which is also included in this collection.*
TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Token used at the “Airmen's Open Mess” of Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO for 5C in trade.
—————
Pritchard estimates a mere ~6 examples are known to exist; When compared to modern mintage numbers, this token would be deemed remarkably rare.
—————
There are 4 “Lowry Air Force Base: Airmen’s Open Mess” issues in this collection which are listed by catalog number below; from Pritchard and the CMT (Colorado Merchant Token) guide. Each denomination was struck in both brass and aluminum (5C, 10C, 25C). The brass/aluminum varieties for the 5C issue are both included in this collection, as well as the brass variety for all 3 denominations. The 10C brass variety and the 25C aluminum are by far the rarest; with just 1 example of each known to exist. The 10C brass is included in the collection but the 25C aluminum is not. I am still pursuing the aluminum issues for the 10C and 25C varieties.
——-
- Pritchard DE1066-5a/CMT DE142a (5C Brass) Type I - Examples Known: 8 (NGC MS-61) - Included in Collection
- Pritchard DE1066-5b/CMT DE142b (5C Aluminum) Type II - Examples Known: 6 (NGC MS-61) - Included in Collection
- Pritchard DE1066-10a/CMT DE142d (10C Aluminum) Type I - Examples Known: 6 - NOT Included in Collection
- Pritchard DE1066-10b/CMT UNL (10C Brass) Type II - Examples Known: 1 (NGC AU-55) - Included in Collection
- Pritchard DE1066-25a/CMT UNL (25C Aluminum) Type I - Examples Known: 1 - NOT Included in Collection
- Pritchard DE1066-25b/CMT DE142e (25C Brass) Type II - Examples Known: 9 (NGC MS-63) - Included in Collection
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Pritchard DE1066-5b
CMT DE142b
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~6 examples are known
NGC Census not available.
TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Aluminum, 22mm, Round, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Airmen’s Open Mess / Lowry / Air Force / Base / Denver, Colorado
REVERSE: 5¢ in Trade (ITAV)
HISTORICAL TOWN/CITY BACKGROUND:
(Denver, Colorado):
“Industrious people used to pan the 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