Owner Comments:
TOKEN APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Extremely Fine — Octagonal Shaped
*Off-center die strike. Part of the E in “Empson’s” is cut off on the observe. Additionally, the “5” on the reverse is off-center and tilted rightward. Of all the Colorado tokens in this collection, this appears to be the “only” off-center strike; making this piece a fascinating rarity. — A problem-free example with various degrees of toning. The piece exhibits light tannish areas swirled together with darker chocolate brown on the surfaces.*
TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Token used by “Empson’s” in Longmont, Colorado for 5C in trade circa early 20th century.
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There are four issues/denominations listed under Empson’s; all are extremely rare (2C/3C/4C/5C). The complete collection contains some very interesting denominations not commonly seen (I.e. 2C, 3C and 4C). Of the issues listed, the survival rate ranges from just 2-6 depending on the denomination. There are only 4 examples known of the 5C issue shown here. The rarity, along with the minting error, creates a truly unique piece. — Further, of the four issues, only two are listed in the CMT (Colorado Merchant Token) guide; the 2C and 4C denominations. The 3C and 5C issues are unlisted; which gives context to their overall rarity.
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I would one day like to acquire the remaining three denominations, as I see this as a fascinating and important series in the field of Colorado merchant token numismatics.
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Pritchard LO250-5
CMT (Unlisted)
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~4 examples are known
NGC Census not available.
TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Brass, 25mm, Octagonal, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Empson’s
REVERSE: 5
HISTORICAL TOWN/CITY BACKGROUND:
(Longmont, Colorado):
“Longmont was founded in 1871 by a group of people from Chicago, Illinois. Originally called the Chicago-Colorado Colony, led by president Robert Collyer, the men sold memberships in the town, purchasing the land necessary for the town hall with the proceeds. As the first planned community in Boulder County, the city streets were laid out in a grid plan within a square mile. The city began to flourish as an agricultural community after the building of the Colorado Central Railroad line arrived northward from Boulder in 1877. During the 1940s, Longmont began to grow beyond these original limits.” — Credited Source: Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 190.
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“In 1925, the Ku Klux Klan gained control of Longmont 's City Council in an election. They began construction of a large pork-barrel project, Chimney Rock Dam, above Lyons and marched up and down Main Street in their costumes. In the 1927 election they were voted out of office, and their influence soon declined. Work on Chimney Rock Dam was abandoned as unfeasible, and its foundations are still visible in the St. Vrain River.” — Credited Source: "Ku Klux Klan Controlled Longmont in 1920s, p. 1 – Bould"Ku Klux Klan Controlled Longmont in 1920s, p. 1 – Boulder County Latino History"