Owner Comments:
BIMETALLIC TOKEN APPEARANCE/DESCRIPTION:
Extremely Fine: Details (Obverse Damage)
*Upon much research, investigation, and examination, this piece does not appear to have obverse damage of any kind. The two parallel “dips” on the obverse were part of the original design, surface marks/hairlines/toning all appear to be natural, and nothing else stands out. This specific example has been submitted to NGC twice and unfortunately resulted in the same Details grading both times. Therefore, there must be something I’m missing or not seeing on the obverse. — The overall appearance is pleasing, all designs/legends/wording are well defined and legible. The intricate interwoven webbing design on the reverse is detailed and utterly beautiful. — Significant to ~80 degree due-rotation exhibited; only adding to the rarity of an issue where just “one” example is estimated to exist. If true, you’re looking at it!*
BIMETALLIC TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Bimetallic issue struck for “W.S. Sexton” circa 1903-1904 in Denver, Colorado located at 1647-51 Curtis St. Stuart Pritchard notes this as a saloon which was owned by local proprietor W.S. Sexton as shown on the obverse. Token was used for 25C in trade. — 3 bimetal denominations were issued by W.S. Sexton of Denver, CO; 12.5C, 25C & 50C; all are exceedingly rare. Of the 3, the 25C issue pictured here is the rarest, with just 1 believed to exist. Pritchard estimates 4 examples of the 12.5C and 2 of the 50C are known to exist, respectively. - The 12.5C issue is pictured by Pritchard in his guide on Plate 5 under “Colorado Saloon and Bar Tokens” for its sheer rarity. It is likely the 25C variety was not photographed because only 1 is known.
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Although it is believed only 1 example of this issue exists, the reverse description differs from what is listed in Pritchard’s guide. Therefore, this may be a unique successor to the listed variety. I mention “successor” because this example was struck with “PAT APPLD FOR” on the reverse. This is absent from Pritchard’s documented reverse description. However, it is noted in Schenkman’s guide. However, Schenkman’s issue was released in 1990, 14 years before Pritchard’s 2004 edition.
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Not only are bimetallic tokens rare themselves, I’ve found problem-free examples to be even less common; particularly those in higher AU-mint state condition. This is likely due to their frequent usage during the era in which they were actually used as merchant trade tokens.
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Schenkman S145-25
Pritchard DE6530-25
CMT DE12680b
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~1 example is known
NGC Census not available.
BIMETALLIC TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Denver, Colorado, Bimetal [Brass/Aluminum], 31mm, Round, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: W.S. Sexton / (Interwoven WSS) / 1647-51 Curtis St. Denver, Colo.
REVERSE: Good for / 25 / Pat / Appld for / in Merchandise
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